Taishi activist arrested

Police in Guangdong took into custody one of the leaders of an attempt by Taishi villagers last year to have their headman removed for alleged corruption, a villager said yesterday.

'Police arrested Feng Qiusheng just now,' the villager who witnessed the arrest said. 'He was standing by the roadside outside Taishi market talking to a friend when they took him away.'

The villager said police first went into the market to catch about 10 people who were gambling and caught Mr Feng on their way out. When he and his friend and other villagers tried to stop them, police warned them not to obstruct the operation.

'We were all very angry and we shouted at them and asked them why they were arresting Qiusheng when he was not among those who gambled but they did not reply,' the source said.

An officer at Yuwotou police station confirmed that they had conducted an operation in Taishi and arrested some people.

'I can't tell you if Feng Qiusheng is one of them. Let me find out the details and get back to you,' he said.