Beijing has reacted to international outrage over the case of jailed milk safety activist Zhao Lianhai by stepping up pressure on him and his supporters.
The two lawyers representing Zhao were denied permission to meet him at the Daxing District Detention Centre in Beijing yesterday for the fourth time this week. His family members also reported increased pressure from the authorities.
The detention centre said Zhao did not want to meet lawyers and showed them a handwritten note, which read: 'I've decided recently not to meet you two.' It was dated Tuesday and bore Zhao's signature.
Zhao, 38, whose son developed kidney stones that were attributed to melamine-tainted milk in 2008, was sentenced last week to 21/2 years in jail for 'provoking quarrels and making trouble' as he tried to help other families whose children were made ill by the milk. The district court trial began in March.
Lawyers Li Fangping and Peng Jian confirmed the note looked as if Zhao had written it. The head of the detention centre told them 'everything is normal' but refused to give any details about whether Zhao was still on a hunger strike.
'This is the first time we've come across such a case [of a jailed client not wanting to meet lawyers] because as long as someone wants to lodge an appeal, they would be keen to talk to lawyers,' Li said.