A rights activist from southwestern China released from a three-year jail term on Friday has vowed to continue his work on behalf of the least privileged in society in spite of poor health and tight surveillance.
Chengdu-based Huang Qi arrived home on Friday at the end of a jail term for “illegally possessing state secrets” handed down by the Wuhou District Court in 2008.
"The prison officials took him to our local police station this morning," said Huang's wife, Zeng Li on Friday. "They probably had a debriefing, and then the police brought him home."
She said the couple's apartment was currently crowded with well-wishers.
"There are a lot of people in our house right now, friends who have come a long way to visit him," Zeng said.
Called for investigation
Huang's trial came after he called for an investigation into shoddy school construction blamed for the deaths of thousands of children during a massive earthquake in Sichuan province in 2008.
He said his health had deteriorated considerably in prison.
"It is much worse than it was," Huang said. "I have the water on the brain left over from the last time in prison, and my heart disease has got worse."
"They didn't give me any treatment in prison ... it's very hard to see a doctor or to take medication in there, because the authorities won't let you."
But he said he had at times been given slightly easier work to do than other inmates. "We were supposed to cut water pipes, but I spoke to them, and ... they had me sweep the floor."
A 'different environment'
Huang said he had emerged into a very different environment for rights activists than the one he left behind three years ago.
"Around 20 of our volunteers have been jailed in the last three years," he said. "But I have been talking to people here, and their resolve hasn't weakened."
"We will be starting work again very soon on behalf of all the anonymous underprivileged people [in China]."
Huang's release comes amid concerns he will be subjected to ongoing house arrest in spite of the completion of his formal jail term.
For example, Shandong-based women's rights activist Cheng Guangcheng has been held under house arrest along with his wife and daughter since his release from a four-year jail term last September, with dozens of local officials guarding the couple's home and watching their every move.
Warnings
"The authorities gave me some warnings," Huang said. "And they told me I had to go and talk to them tomorrow."
"I don't know what practical controls there will be ... but according to law, I haven't been deprived of my political rights," he said.
"I am a free man, and will exercise my rights in a legal manner."
Reported by Fang Yuan for RFA's Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.