Guo Guoting says the authorities are trying to silence him
Shanghai plans to suspend the licence of activist lawyer Guo Guoting for one year, people involved in the case said yesterday.
The decision, expected to be officially confirmed in the next fortnight, emerged from an hour-long disciplinary hearing held by the Shanghai Bureau of Justice yesterday.
The bureau accused Mr Guo, best known for defending rights activists, of 'defiling and slandering' the Communist Party and government through internet postings.
Mr Guo declined to comment yesterday, saying the government had warned him not to discuss the case. 'It's very clear that if I talk, the case will be reviewed,' he said.
The justice bureau also declined to comment. A panel of three bureau officials presided at the hearing.
Speaking earlier, Mr Guo said the government was trying to silence him for his legal defence of other activists including fellow lawyer Zheng Enchong , who advised Shanghai residents suing the city in relocation disputes before he was jailed.