CHINESE ACTIVIST HU JIA FREED

Mr. Hu Jia, 37, convicted in 2008 for “inciting subversion of state power”, reunited with his family early on Sunday after serving three-and-a-half-years in jail. He was unavailable to speak to the media as he was tired and need to take rest.

“He is back home with his parents and me” was told to Reuters in a brief interview by his wife, Zeng Jinyan.

It was also tweeted by Ms. Zeng last week that Mr. Zeng Hu will not be able to meet with the media and that he must treat his cirrhosis and take care of his family. During his time in jail, his condition of liver has worsened after suffering from cirrhosis.

Being one of China prominent activists, Mr. Hu had a charismatic career before he was jailed. He pursued an energetic career as an environment protection campaigner and as an advocate for rural victims of AIDS. Mr. Hu was always tipped off as a potential candidate for a Nobel Peace Prize and moreover has bagged overseas human rights awards from bodies such as the European Parliament.

Report by Sumit