In a changing world, one unfortunate constant is the abhorrent ways in which China abuses its people. Huang Qi is a victim of that abuse because he dared to help other victims? grieving parents whose children were killed last May when hundreds of poorly built schools collapsed during the earthquake in Sichuan Province.

Mr.Huang runs an organization called the Tianwang Human Rights Center in the Sichuan capital, Chengdu. He was arrested in June after posting an article on the center’s Web site outlining the demands of five parents whose children died when the Dongqi Middle School crumbled.

By official Chinese figures, as many as 10,000 schoolchildren were killed across Sichuan as school buildings and dormitories shattered. In many cases, nearby buildings remained standing? raising questions about corruption in the construction of facilities for society’s most vulnerable.

The parents had reasonable demands: an investigation into the school’s construction, accountability for those responsible for any failures, and compensation for the children lost. But Chinese officials acted unreasonably.

Mr.Huang is charged with illegal possession of state secrets? a legal ruse when officials want to punish a dissident. The charge is especially difficult to defend against because the official definition of secrets is broad, lawyers, witnesses and family members have limited access to evidence, and the courts lack independence.

Beijing has pledged to strengthen human rights protections. It can prove that by releasing Mr.Huang and addressing the legitimate demands of all of the parents.