Li Boguang

Other farmers' protests In the same year, Li published an article which examined the impact of corruption on the lives of farmers. The article, entitled "Can Citizens Dismiss a Mayor" was published in Modern Civilisation Pictorial, No 12. Reportedly, Li Boguang also advised farmers in Fu’an, a coastal city in the North of Fujian Province. Once again, farmers sought to create and deliver a petition to the central government regarding a land dispute.

A hallmark of the protests in both Fujian and Hebei was the immense pressure that was put on villagers by the police force to denounce Li Boguang and his fellow activists. This culminated in December 2004, when Li was arrested by the police in Fu’an. He was charged with defrauding farmers. Police reportedly searched his home in Beijing, confiscating computers and documents.

In March 2005, AFP reported that Li had been released on condition that he remain in Beijing and have no contact with farmers or others seeking to petition the government about abuses by local officials. The actual date of release was later reported as 21 January.

Religious activism There have been claims that Li was affiliated with the Fangzhou Congregation, a Chinese house church situated in Beijing's Chaoyang district. Other members of the influential church include Gao Zhisheng and Yu Jie, founder of the Chinese branch of International PEN. He also defended multiple Christians who had been arrested by the government, protecting them from perceived persecution.

Book business While proofreading in 1998, Li once read works by the Victorian era writer Samuel Smiles and was touched by the author, so he decided to translate and publish Smiles' works. Also he translated other writers like Robert A. Dahl and Niccolò Machiavelli, and published the books through Chinese publishing houses.

Allegations of foul play However, this description courted controversy, with activists and media outlets alike considering his demise to be "suspicious", Christian Solidarity Worldwide also considered the death to be "suspicious", and refuted the official account as Li's health was very good prior to his death. The death served to return attention to China's human rights record and the welfare of those who oppose the authorities. The government's treatment of Li was already under scrutiny following the assault perpetrated by men with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party in 2016, and further threats which had allegedly been levied against him.

International commentators remarked on the similarity between Li's death and that of Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo in 2017.