A lawyer was attacked yesterday after visiting a human rights activist. Together they were helping Taishi village residents in their struggle against corruption among village officials.

Tianhe (AsiaNews/SCMP) – A lawyer helping residents of Guangdong's Taishi village in their struggle to oust their headman was attacked by strangers yesterday after visiting rights activist Yang Maodong, who is believed to be under government surveillance.

Tang Jingling said he suffered no physical injury. But Mr Yang, who had also been assisting the Taishi residents, said the attack was unacceptable.

Mr Tang said he was tailed by four people wearing plain clothes after leaving Mr Yang's home at about 2pm. He strolled around for two hours and had a haircut, after which two more people and a motorbike joined those following him.

"As I walked into an alley, a fat guy hit the back of my head. I asked him why he did that, but he remained silent and punched me again. I then ran into a main street where he kept kicking at my heels," he said.

Mr Tang reported the incident to police in Tianhe district.

Mr Yang, better known as Guo Feixiong, said the attack represented another attempt by the authorities to suppress him. He claimed at least seven people from the State Security Ministry and National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets had been watching him since Sunday.

Mr Yang said he and Gao Zhisheng, a prominent rights lawyer who was recently the target of an assassination attempt, were planning to hold sit-ins and hunger strikes in Beijing with about 20 other activists some time in the future.

• china
• guangdong
• taishi
• village
• corruption
• headman
• struggle
• repression