China has detained a number of prominent petitioners seeking redress in an attempt to restrict their activities during the ongoing annual session of the parliament, a human rights group said yesterday.
The New York-based Human Rights in China said most of the detainees were Shanghai residents or relatives of dissidents. Some were placed under house arrest after the National People's Congress session opened early this month.
Jiang Meili, the wife of imprisoned Shanghai property rights lawyer Zheng Enchong, was detained along with her sister by security police on March 10 outside the home of her husband's defense lawyer Guo Guoting, the rights group said.
It was unclear whether Jiang was still being held. She could not be immediately reached for comment.
Human Rights Watch also quoted sources as saying that Li Jianhong, operator of a Web site which was shut down by the authorities last year, was detained by police outside the building where Jiang lives.
In another case, Wu Xuewei, the husband of detained petitioner Mao Hengfeng, has been under strict surveillance in Shanghai since Feb. 25, the group said.
A five-man surveillance team is reportedly monitoring his every move, and blocks his door at night with a bench. Some of the petitioners were detained for trying to come to Beijing to seek government attention to their grievances during the high-profile legislative meeting.
Shen Yongmei, a woman who had gone to Beijing to petition over redevelopment projects, was detained on March 6 and forced to return to Shanghai, where she is being held, the group said.
The elderly father of detained petitioner Xu Zhengqing, 74-year-old Xu Yongdao, was also detained on March 5 while petitioning in Beijing and was taken back to Shanghai, the group said.
A family member confirmed the incident, saying the elder Xu was still being followed Sunday.
"My father is being watched every day. When he goes out, they follow his every step," said Xu Yongdao's daughter Xu Zhengmei.
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