The Questioning

On July 24, 2012, Rikun Zhu opened the door of his hotel room to find police officers standing there, at least eight of them. While driving earlier that day, he had noticed that he was being followed by officers in plain clothes. Zhu is a human rights activist, and he knew he could count on a hostile reception in Jiangxi province. Other activists have been beaten up here, arrested for no reason and even tortured. So when there was a knock on his door at midnight, he turned on a camera placed on his bedside table before seeing who was there. With the excuse of a "room inspection," the horde of policemen barges in. Zhu lights a cigarette. A flabby policeman then walks in, waving his badge. He wants to see some ID, but that turns out to be easier said than done.