Authorities in the northern Chinese province of Hebei have withdrawn basic social subsistence payments from a writer who was released from jail for "subversion" last year.
Guo Qizhen, 53, of Hebei's Cangzhou city, said he has been the target of continuing oppression and harassment from the authorities since his release from prison in May 2010.
"They said they would give me 300 yuan/month subsistence payment and 300 yuan/month to live on, a total of 600 yuan/month (U.S. $92)," Guo said in a recent interview.
"They are using this as a method of revenge; they want you to get to the point where you can barely stay alive," he said.
"I don't have a job; my wife lost her job as well, and we aren't even receiving basic social welfare payments."
Guo was arrested on May 12, 2006 and charged with “inciting subversion of state power” for 34 articles he published on overseas websites attacking the leadership of China's ruling Communist Party.
Political rights
He was sentenced to four years in prison and three years’ deprivation of political rights on Oct. 17, 2006.
"I am very angry," Guo said. "They have illegally cut off my electricity and water supply."
Guo said he had sustained leg injuries in prison following "ill-treatment," but lacks the funds to seek medical treatment.
"I would like to express the strongest protest at these methods they are using."
An official who answered the phone at the Cangzhou municipal goverment declined to answer questions about Guo's case.
"I don't know about this," the official said. "We haven't received anything."
Guo said he had been prevented from getting online or communicating with the outside world because of government harassment.
Conviction appealed
In an interview in September, five months after his release, he said the authorities were apparently angry that he had continued to appeal his conviction for subversion at every opportunity.
"I think they are deliberately doing this to step up the pressure on me," Guo said at the time.
"They can't just let me lead a normal life."
Guo's case prompted an international campaign by the U.S.-based International PEN writers' group at the time of his arrest in 2006.
In an action letter addressed to China's leaders, the group urged campaigners to write: "Guo Qizhen has been imprisoned for non-violent activities that are protected under Chinese law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory."
"[We] therefore urge you to facilitate his immediate and unconditional release."
Reported by Fung Yat-yiu for RFA's Cantonese service, and by Fang Yuan for the Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.