New | Rights advocate Wang Gongquan latest to give video confession
Wang Gongquan admitted to disturbing public order and pledged to cut ties with jailed New Citizen group founder, Xu Zhiyong, sources say
Wang Gongquan, an outspoken advocate for greater civic involvement on the mainland, has confessed to disturbing the public order less than three months after being detained by Beijing police, three people said.
The former venture capitalist is a close friend and supporter of arrested anti-corruption and rights activist Xu Zhiyong. Wang made video statements to police and said he would "sever the relationship" with Xu, if "that is what the authorities want", the people said.
One of the people said Wang's gaunt appearance in the video added to fears that he had been mistreated during his detention.
Wang, 52, was taken from his Beijing home on September 13 and formally arrested in October on a charge of "gathering a crowd to disturb order in public places".
Late on Wednesday, Wang's lawyer, Chen Youxi, said on his verified microblog account thatBeijing police had told Wang's wife that her husband had volunteered to dismiss him as his defence counsel.
"We cannot verify if the dismissal is based on Wang's own interests," Chen said, adding the detention facility where Wang was being held had rejected his most recent request for a meeting with Wang.
However, Chen said in another microblog post yesterday that he might remain Wang's lawyer during trial.
