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.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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