CANADIAN DIPLOMATS in China recently carried out one of their grimmer duties: paying a monthly visit to a former colleague, Michael Kovrig, who is being detained by state security agents. Mr Kovrig, a diplomat for over a decade before joining the International Crisis Group, a conflict-prevention charity, was grabbed off a Beijing street on December 10th. He is being held in a room kept brightly lit at all times, and questioned for up to six hours a day. Granted one consular visit a month, Mr Kovrig may not see his family or hire a lawyer. On this occasion friends gave the consuls messages to read to him (handing over letters is banned). Mr Kovrig, a lover of jazz, the blues and literature-he likes the science fiction of Harlan Ellison-was allowed to receive a book. Though accused of endangering China's national security, a catch-all offence, Mr Kovrig has not been charged with any crime.
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