Former retired teacher Zisu, who had previously called for democratic reform within the Chinese Communist Party, was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of subverting state power. Upon his release, his pension was suspended, leading to financial difficulties in his life.
According to a recent disclosure by an internet user in Kunming to a reporter from Epoch Times, after Zisu was released from prison, he found that his pension had been suspended. When he inquired about the situation with the Party School where he used to work, he was redirected to the Social Security Bureau, which then passed the responsibility back to the Communist Party. Zisu has reportedly lost two lawsuits regarding this issue.
The informant further revealed, “After Zisu was released from prison, the authorities imposed strict control on him. Although Chengdu is his hometown, the national security in Chengdu did not allow him to stay there and instead sent him back to Kunming. Recently, due to hearing loss in one ear, poor dental health, and financial hardship, he is hoping for more attention to be paid to his current situation.”
Zisu, a former economics teacher at the Yunnan Provincial Party School, was forced into early retirement after criticizing the Communist Party and the government in his lectures.
In 2017, Zisu, as a party member, issued an open letter calling for public democratic elections for the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and directly criticized Xi Jinping. This led to his conviction on charges of subverting state power, resulting in a four-year prison sentence. He was released in April 2021 but had his political rights suspended for three years, and his pension was suspended as well.
In February 2020, Zisu was awarded the 7th Annual Oscar for Chinese Freedom and Human Rights.
After his release, the authorities initially agreed to allow Zisu to settle back in his hometown of Chengdu, but later changed their decision and arranged for him to be under their jurisdiction in Kunming.
Following his release, Zisu has encountered health issues with his hearing and other organs. At the age of 70, he recently suffered from consecutive infections of conjunctivitis, eczema in the ear canal, and looseness in four lower front teeth, requiring dental braces. However, without a stable source of income, he has fallen into financial hardship.
Huang Jianping, a citizen from Jiangxi who co-signed and shared Zisu’s open letter, was criminally detained and became a key surveillance target in the local area.