(Ecns.cn)--Despite public outcry, an over-protective mother in Changsha, Hunan Province, has refused to free her 14-year-old son from captivity.
The boy nicknamed Guo Guo has been locked at home for over two years, subsisting on instant noodles and food brought to him by his estranged mother. He is forbidden to go to school or play with other kids his age.
In 2008, the mother named Xiao Sheng got divorced and moved away from their hometown, taking Guo Guo and his 17-year-old sister. The sister abandoned the family soon after.
Xiao eventually decided not to let her son leave the house for fear of losing him or that he might be harmed by others.
"It is excessive for my sister to do this," said Guo Guo's aunt, who lives nearby. "The boy is very clever and should not be imprisoned at home. I am also worried about his health."
The story of Guo Guo has been widely reported by local media and aroused public concern. "What Guo Guo's mother is doing has already ruined the boy's life physically and mentally," said Dan Ni, an adolescent mental expert in Changsha.
Currently, the local education department is aware of the situation and says it will figure out a way for Guo Guo to go to school, but must have the permission of the boy's mother first.
