Jilin internet activist said to be in custody

An internet activist has been detained in Jilin province for posting material online that was critical of the government, according to a spokesman for a New York-based human rights group.

Luo Yongzhong, 36, was taken into custody on June 13 at his flat in Changchun city for allegedly 'endangering state security', said Liu Qing, the president of Human Rights in China.

He said Luo, who has published about 150 political commentaries online, had posted essays criticising former president Jiang Zemin's 'Theory of the Three Representatives' and condemning the central government.

'Luo is parentless and has one disabled leg,' Mr Liu said. 'He seldom socialises and spends a lot of time web-surfing and publishing articles.

'He is now being held in the No3 Detention Centre of Changchun.'

Luo was detained by officials from the Jilin provincial national security department and Changchun city's national security bureau, said Mr Liu.