Police have detained the founder of a human rights website and at least four writers after the site reported on a self-immolation in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and a defacement of Mao’s portrait there.

Amnesty International reported that Huang Qi, the founder of the human rights website 64 Tianwang, was detained in Chengdu after a raid by 11 police officers Thursday afternoon. Police confiscated computers, mobile phones, and USB sticks, Amnesty said.

“There now appears to be a concerted campaign of intimidation by the Chinese authorities against those associated with the 64 Tianwang website. Once again the authorities have shown their intent to stifle debate on human rights within China,” said William Nee, China researcher at Amnesty International.

“These are spurious charges against Huang Qi and others detained solely for their work for 64 Tianwang. They must be immediately released,” Nee said.

Last weekend three volunteer journalists who had reported on the sensitive issues of the self-immolation and the Mao defacement for 64 Tianwang website were taken away and detained by the police...

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