Activist Refused Lawyer Visit

By Radio Free Asia
December 08, 2009

A Chinese activist representing tainted-milk victims is barred from seeing his lawyer.

A spokesman for victims in last year's tainted milk scandal detained for weeks has yet to be allowed to speak with his attorney, according to his wife and a colleague.

Zhao Lianhai, the organizer of the victims' group Coalition of Families of Children with Kidney Stones, was detained by police for "provocative conduct" in the Daxing district of China's capital, Beijing, three weeks ago.

The activist had traveled to the capital with 41 other parents in the hope of attracting the attention of authorities during U.S. President Barack Obama's state visit.

Zhao's wife Li Xuemei said her husband's lawyer, Peng Jian, was permitted to meet with him only once immediately following his arrest.

"There is no information from the police. It has been three weeks now, and Peng Jian went there many times but couldn't see the police officer in charge of my husband's case," she said.

Following Zhao's detention, Jiang Yalin has emerged as a spokesperson for victims of contaminated baby formula. She said the police officer has been hiding from Zhao's lawyer.

"No one can locate him now. Each time Zhao's lawyer Peng Jian requests a meeting, the police say they can't find him," Jiang said.

>> Read complete report