Chinese writer Huang Zerong, 81, known also by his pen name Tie Liu, was detained by Chinese authorities Sept. 14 for allegedly publishing articles critical of Communist Party propaganda chief Liu Yunshan [3] (Brookings backgrounder [4]). According to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post [5], the 81-year-old writer was criminally detained on charges of 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble.'" Huang spent 23 years in prison after being labeled [6] a "rightist" by the Chinese regime during Mao Zedong's crackdown [7] on liberals. His name was later cleared by the Communist Party in 1980.
China's human rights record has garnered international attention for the government's treatment of the growing civil rights movement in the country, led by a number of prominent rights activists and attorneys. Last week the legal defense team representing prominent Chinese human rights activist Guo Feixiong [8] (CHRD profile [9]), decided to boycott [10] the start of Guo's pending trial over procedural irregularities, which resulted in adjournment of the proceedings at the Guangzhou People's Court in southern China.
From Jurst [11], Sept. 15. Used with permission.
