Wire Service Profiles Political Activists in China

The Knight-Ridder news service has published an article on what it describes as a "new breed of civil activist." The article profiles, among others, Li Jian. According to the article, Li set up a Web site in late 2003 that he called "Citizens' Rights." Authorities took the Web site down on August 25, 2004. Knight-Ridder cited Li's lawyer as saying that, although Li was not charged with a crime, "the police understand that Mr. Li can only play a role through his Web site. They don't need to detain him. They just close the Web site."