Famous Human Rights Lawyer Assaulted in China

Zheng Enchong, a famous human rights lawyer in China, according to his wife and associates, has been continually targeted, harrassed, and assaulted by the police and power structure in Shanghai. He is currently under house arrest, and his wife reported that recently on several different occassions, Mr. Zheng has been beaten by plain clothes police officers- once when he was leaving church. Associates, who have spoken with Mr. Zheng, said that the harrassment started after he began to advise residents who have organized against a high-tech railroad project that cuts into their neighborhood. They also believe that the harrassment stems from accusations that Mr. Zheng made of government corruption in Shanghai. This harrassment is supposedly done to quiet Mr. Zheng; however, I think it may have backfired. I am sure that it is giving Mr. Zheng and his cause more exposure than the Chinese government anticipated.