April 11, 2008

Chinese AIDS Activists Allegedly Beaten by Police

On April 5, 11 Chinese AIDS protesters—all of whom claim to have contracted HIV through blood transfusions—were allegedly beaten and detained by police in front of a municipal building outside of Beijing, the Associated Press/Yahoo News reports (malaysia.news.yahoo.com).

The protest was an attempt to attract the attention of Premier Wen Jiabao, the article reports. The protesters asked for compensation from the hospital where their transfusions were administered in the mid-’90s, when government-supported blood-buying programs transmitted HIV to thousands of poor Chinese farmers.

According to Wan Yanhai, a Beijing-based activist, police beat the HIV-positive protesters before shocking them with electric prods and spraying them in the face with an unknown incapacitating substance. They were then detained at a local hospital.

The AP reports that three women were released from detainment under the condition that they drop their complaints about the government and not tell anyone about the incident. The remaining eight protesters did not agree to these conditions and are still reportedly being detained. When reached by the AP for comment, local police did not disclose any information about the incident.

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Kevin, Phoenix, 2008-04-11 18:25:25
What's up with the 'allegedly' in the headline? When it comes to communist china, the government doesn't deserve any slack. They more than likely beat, tortured, and arrested these people beyond a reasonable doubt. No 'allegedly' needed. Boycott the olympics! Boycott China. Free Tibet!