Chinese environmental activist arrested, friend says

Apr 17, 2007, 5:31 GMT

Beijing - Environmental activist Wu Lihong, who has fought for years against the pollution of Taihu Lake in eastern China, has been arrested, a friend said Tuesday.

About 40 to 50 police stormed his apartment Friday night in Zhoutie near Yixing in Jiangsu province and detained the 39-year-old, the friend told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa by telephone.

The officers did not identify themselves or show a search warrant but seized Wu's computer, camera, photos and other belongings, the man said, adding that one officer accused Wu of having contact with foreign media.

'Neighbours and friends tried in vain to prevent the arrest,' the man said.

Wu has worked for years to uncover illegal water pollution by businesses and denounced the inaction of corrupt officials. He has repeatedly been arrested and threatened.

'He is a thorn in the side of local authorities,' his friend said.

His wife, Xu Jiehua, was told Saturday to bring some of his belongings to prison, which indicates a long detention, the friend added.

Wu grew up beside Taihu Lake, the third-largest lake in China, which is located in the Yangtze Delta plain on the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

It is known for its fish industry and as a tourist attraction because of its scenic beauty, but it is also highly polluted. It provides much of the drinking water in the thickly populated area despite it worsening pollution, caused by discharges of wastewater and from factories.