Mother of detained labour activist takes on state media – and forced into hardest decision of her life
After intense pressure from the authorities, Chen Wenying drops her lawsuit against Xinhua and CCTV, which alleged her son, Zeng Feiyang, had committed fraud
Suing Chinese state media for defamation is an ambitious, probably futile battle.
But Chen Wenying, 71, was determined to fight for the reputation of her son, Zeng Feiyang, one of the most influential labour activists in the country.
Zeng was detained along with five other high-profile campaigners last December, in one of the biggest blows authorities have struck against the labour rights movement on the mainland, experts say.
He had been helping migrant workers pursue back pay and injury claims, but it was a ruse to scam donations, Xinhua and CCTV said, citing the police. He has also been accused of disturbing social order and keeping mistresses. He hasn’t been formally charged or given access to his lawyer and is waiting for a court date.
Denying him a lawyer this long is not right
“Can you at least tell me when my son can meet a lawyer?” Chen said one day last month when a court official rang to press her to drop the case. “I need an exact date, be it two months or three months ... you know denying him a lawyer this long is not right.”