Campaigner knocked unconscious Dozens of police from rival city districts in Beijing fought a pitched battle yesterday over Christian activist Hua Huiqi, who was knocked unconscious during the melee and admitted to hospital. Four factions took part in the battle that saw Chongwen district police and security guards, whom witnesses said worked for New World China Land - a subsidiary of Hong Kong's New World Development - squaring off against police from Fengtai district and plain-clothes national security officers, who had been monitoring Mr Hua for weeks. 'You killed my brother!' Hua's sister, Hua Yaping, screamed at men in street clothes believed to be officers from Mr Hua's local police station who had beaten him. Mr Hua lay immobile on a gurney in Tiantan Hospital for an hour, eyes shut, before being treated. His trousers were wet from urine and dirty from the beating, according to another sister, Hua Huilin . A woman answering the telephone at the district police station declined to comment, adding the officers were all in a meeting. She also declined to take questions. Attempts to contact New World in Hong Kong and its office in Beijing for comments were not successful because office staff said the managers responsible were not available. The incident, a complex one involving police and private security forces representing both political and economic interests, illustrates what human rights activists say is a growing trend on the mainland - attacks by private security guards, often representing companies involved in property deals with local governments, are on the rise. Mr Hua, under scrutiny by the authorities due to his long history of underground church activism, also has a history of opposing home evictions in the capital. He has been detained repeatedly in recent years for leading a house church, as well as for his rights defence efforts on other issues. Recently, Mr Hua began helping petitioners from the provinces who travel to Beijing seeking justice. He was released from jail in July after serving six months for 'obstructing justice'. Under heavy police guard, Mr Hua moved out of his Chongwen district home on Monday and was taken to Fengtai district, in the southwest of the city. But Fengtai police did not want him in their jurisdiction, and yesterday he returned to Chongwen with a dozen Fengtai policemen. He was greeted by Chongwen policemen and the developer's security guards, according to witnesses. Both those groups were equally intent on not letting him return to his home, which is slated for demolition. Late yesterday Mr Hua was still in hospital. Family members said doctors were refusing to discuss his condition, and the family was being watched by police.
