Legal advocates are hoping to push for reforms in the country's controversial re-education through labor system as the public voice their support for a lawsuit brought by a local village official against Chongqing's re-education through labor committee.
Ren Jianyu, 25, was freed Monday after serving 15 months in detention for "attacking" the municipality's red song campaign online. However, a lawsuit suing the committee was dropped by a local court Tuesday.
Ren told the Global Times over the phone Wednesday that he will bring the case to the Chongqing Municipal Higher People's Court in 10 days.
Ren has been under pressure to cut a deal with the court, but refused to give up. "They hinted that if I don't drop the case, a reinstatement for me would be impossible," said Ren.
"I hope my case could set a precedent for similar cases, and my 15-month detention could benefit all the people," said Ren.
Landmark building should respect the public's feeling