Son of jailed July 1 activist tells of police intimidation

The son of a mainland woman jailed for taking part in Hong Kong's July 1 rally says he was threatened by police and told his safety was at risk after giving an interview to foreign media.

Zeng Jiuzi, 53, and another activist, Song Ningsheng, a 44-year-old man, were sent to a labour camp in Ningdu county, in their home province of Jiangxi, to serve 14-month terms. But they were moved hundreds of kilometres away to separate camps in the cities of Nanchang and Gaoan on Friday.

Zeng's son Liu Zhonghua, 37, only discovered his mother had been moved when he went to visit her on Tuesday.

Liu said he was threatened face to face by the senior police officer in charge of the case, You Xianming, after he gave an interview to Voice of America, a radio station funded by the US government.

'He said, 'China is ruled by one party. Even Voice of America cannot interfere with us,'' Liu revealed by telephone. 'He told us to 'be careful'. I asked if there would be any serious consequences, he said 'definitely'.'

So far, Liu said he had not been followed or approached by anyone.

He saw his mother twice in the camp before she was moved and said she looked gaunt. 'I am very worried. Physically, she was not very well, and she is under psychological pressure. There must be some reason to transfer her that far away. They just want to torture us.'