Huang is the creator of the website Tian Wang (www.6-4tianwang.com), which published articles on controversial topics. On June 3, 2001, the day before the 11th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, he was arrested in Sichuan province on the charge of "subversion" and was sentenced to five years in prison that August.

In an interview with the BBC, Huang said he was ordered to sleep on the floor next to the toilet for the first year he was in jail. He denied the charge of subversion and insisted it did not apply to him.

Huang said: "If someone in China fights for democracy and freedom and is then accused of being a member of the June 4th incident, Falun Gong or pro-democracy activists, I am definitely going to tell the Chinese regime that I am one of them and proud of it. There is no doubt that I am in pursuit of democracy and freedom."

As one of the conditions of his release, Huang is not allowed to join any organization or party.

While in prison, Huang suffered many serious illnesses due to the terrible conditions. He was also severely beaten, resulting in several lost teeth and serious bodily injury. He suffered from headaches, eczema and heart disease, and received no substantial care from the meager jail hospital. His request for treatment at a hospital in Chengdu was refused.

In spite of his five-year ordeal, Huang said, "There is no doubt that I'll continue to uphold human rights and defend freedom as before. My companions and I won't lose our confidence."

Tian Wang helped people

Huang's website, www.6-4tianwang.com, helped more than 70 people locate missing friends and relatives by publishing information and research on cases of missing persons in China. The site won praise from many official Chinese media outlets, including People's Daily; China Youth Daily called it one of the most significant Internet events of 1999.

In the course of his work, Huang witnessed many dark aspects of the lower strata of Chinese society. Particularly, he saw that those in power had abused many people. In reaction, he opened a column for those who had been treated unjustly to "speak for themselves.''

Huang's Web site published the news that fishermen from Sichuan province were being forced to have appendectomies in order to get jobs on a Taiwanese boat (the operation was imposed by the recruiting agents to avoid surgical operations on the high sea). This piece of news had a huge impact and was later reported by hundreds of media. Tian Wang also attracted the attention of former Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji.

Website Ordered Closed

The fisherman story proved offensive to those in power who benefit from the labor export. As a result, Huang Qi began receiving threats from both the Mafia and the police. In February 2000, the Chinese government ordered Tian Wang shut down. To continue his important work, Huang Qi accepted an offer from a U.S.-based Internet company for a free server for his website.

Newly empowered, the site continued publishing politically sensitive topics, which included "Rules for the Chinese Democratic Party," by Xie Wanjun. Although Huang was warned not to post that kind of article, he was not cowed and continued to do so.

On June 3, 2001, Huang was picked-up by local police, right in front of two reporters who had come seeking his help. All communication with his family was then cut off.