Human rights lawyer, activists formally arrested on subversion charges
Formal arrest of June 4 protesters seen as escalation of political repression
A mainland human rights lawyer and two activists, all placed under criminal detention last month, have been formally arrested for state subversion in a move that lawyers described as an "escalation of political repression".
Tang Jingling, detained since May 16 on a charge of "starting quarrels and provoking trouble", is now under arrest for the far more serious charge of "inciting subversion of state power", his wife, Wang Yanfang, wrote on her Weibo microblog.
"Are all dissidents suspected of inciting subversion of state power now? I call on lawyers to get together and demarcate the legal boundary. What evidence is there that he's suspected of that?" she wrote. "Tang's China dream of freedom and democracy made him guilty of subversion."
Tang was detained on the previous charge after being taken from his home in Guangzhou last month.
Tang promoted a non-violent civil disobedience movement that encouraged mediation to commemorate the June 4 anniversary and opening the market to private investment.