BEIJING - A BEIJING activist was detained on a charge of inciting subversion after posting a photo online of China's 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations that were eventually crushed by the military, killing hundreds of people.
It was the first time Bai Dongping, 47, had ever been arrested though he was taken out of Beijing 'on holiday' by police or told to stay inside his home during high-profile events such as the Olympics, said his wife, Yang Dan, said by telephone on Tuesday.
Bai was taken away on Saturday, Ms Yang said, and Beijing police called her on Sunday to tell her why. China often uses the vaguely worded charge of subversion to lock up activists who are seen as troublemakers.
'I'm really scared. That's such a strong charge. It's the first time I'd ever heard of such a thing,' Ms Yang said.
The arrest comes as several Chinese activists have reported increasing harassment after imprisoned author Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October. Liu is serving an 11-year sentence for subversion after co-authoring an appeal calling for reforms to China's one-party political system.
Bai was briefly released on Saturday before police returned and took him away again. He told his wife they had interrogated him about the Tiananmen photo he posted online.
Source: ST Online/AP
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