CHINESE authorities have allowed a noted dissident to return to academic work for the first time since June 1989 in another move aimed at improving its human rights image.
Mr Lu Jiamin, in his late 40s, was freed in January 1991 after spending 18 months in jail. Although he had been found guilty of ''committing only minor crimes'', Mr Lu was left without work for months after his release until being allowed to work at a library.
But on Wednesday, the authorities told him they would restore the salary and other benefits he used to enjoy as an associate professor of politics at the China Labour College, an institution for training cadres of the official All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
For the time being, Mr Lu is not allowed to teach.
However, he will be allowed to work at the research office of his college. Mr Lu said he planned to do research on the economy.
''It represented a relaxation of the policy,'' Mr Lu said.
In contrast, another dissident, social scientist Mr Li Honglin, is still being denied permission to go to the United States.
