Chinese police confirm missing rights activist being held in detention
Jiang Tianyong has been placed under surveillance at an unknown facility over suspicion of subversion, authorities tell family a month after he disappeared
A prominent Chinese rights campaigner is being detained on suspicion of subversion, according to an official notice sent to his family a month after he disappeared.
Jiang Tianyong went missing on November 21 in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, his wife Jin Bianling said earlier. This week her father received a notice by registered mail from the city’s public security bureau stating Jiang since December 1 had been held under supervision at a residential location in Zhengzhou in Henan province.
Typically authorities use this type of detention to muzzle outspoken government critics, holding them for weeks or even months before deciding whether to bring charges. If found guilty of subversion, Jiang could face up to 15 years in jail, according to his lawyer Chen Jinxue. Another lawyer earlier told the South China Morning Post Changsha police said Jiang was being held for trying to use other people’s identification to buy train tickets.
Jin said she was relieved to learn her husband was still alive but feared what might come. “I’m extremely worried and fearful over his health. He needs to take regular medicine to stabilise his blood pressure. We don’t know if his medical needs will be addressed.”