The Internet is a public sphere in China and is used by many to defend the public interest and this must be protected, said an article in Southern Metropolis Daily (excerpts below).

A netizen named Huiyang Oubo was badly injured in an attack in Huizhou, Guangdong province after he posted at least 95 online messages highlighting corruption, exposing pollution and arbitrary fees collected by schools.

Although the police have not revealed the results of the investigation, it seems obvious that this was a revenge attack.

His family was harassed in March and someone threw a brick into his daughter's room.

The police should act quickly to respond to public concern. Given the victim's identity, the police must track down the attackers and planners as soon as possible.