‘We thought [Fu Xiancai’s] high profile would serve as some form of protection. But this was not the case,’ said German correspondent Jochen Graebert. ‘We will do everything we can help to help this man. We won’t abandon him.’

Reporters Without Borders urges China’s foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing, to intervene in the case of Fu Xiancai, a vocal critic of the government’s treatment of people displaced by the Three Gorges dam who was left paralysed after a beating.

Reporters Without Borders has demanded that China investigate the beating of an activist after he criticized the government in a German TV interview, calling the incident a worrying sign for coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Fu Xiancai yesterday vowed to continue his fight on behalf of people displaced for the Three Gorges dam, and appealed for help with paying for vital surgery.

HRIC calls on the Chinese authorities and the international community to put pressure on the Yichang No. 1 Hospital, where Fu is a patient, to provide him with all necessary treatment, procedures and medication without further delay.

The German government on Friday gave money to pay for vital surgery on Fu Xiancai, who was beaten after campaigning on behalf of displaced residents from the Three Gorges dam area. An operation is scheduled for Sunday, DPA reports.

In December 2002, the resettlement bureau in Maoping tried to burn its books to cover up accounting fraud. However, the 1994 accounting report was kept intact by concerned individuals and has become part of the evidence presented by petitioners.

The operation Sunday might enable Fu Xiancai to use a wheelchair, although doctors say he will not walk again, his son said

Despite international limelight and accolades, green activists in China still face great risks in their environmental campaigns as they run afoul of profit-minded local officials and energy companies with vested interests.

A Chinese activist left paralyzed following a severe beating remained in intensive care Monday after an operation to stabilize his spinal injuries.

‘HRIC calls on the Chinese authorities to ensure that Fu Xiancai is provided with any disability subsidies for medical treatment and financial support authorized under Chinese law, and to carry out a thorough and transparent inquiry into his attack.’

‘This happened in China,’ said foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the attack and the hospital is actively treating him, she said, adding that ‘they don’t wish to be disturbed.’

Fu Xiancai’s condition has suddenly worsened after post-operative complications developed Tuesday. He had to have an incision made into his airways after developing pneumonia, his son told DPA.

Fu Xiancai ‘had another small operation but it looks like it will take six months for him to recover and he won’t be able to use his arms and legs. The outlook is not very hopeful,’ said a friend.

For many Chinese, dream dam is a nightmare