China urged to treat jailed dissident's ailments

[Guest guest]

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-37072020081217

China urged to treat jailed dissident's ailments

Wed Dec 17, 2008 BEIJING (Reuters) - Two human rights groups on Wednesday called

on China to ensure access to health care for jailed dissident Hu Jia, an

advocate for AIDS sufferers.

China should release results of routine blood tests and provide appropriate care

to manage his liver cirrhosis, which is related to his chronic hepatitis B,

Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights said in a letter to Chinese

president Hu Jintao.

Hu Jia was awarded the 2008 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the

European Parliament in October. He was sentenced to a three-and-a-half year

prison term in April for subversion, and his wife and young daughter remain

under house arrest.

" We are dissatisfied that the European Parliament insisted on giving Hu Jia the

Sakharov prize despite much Chinese opposition, and we have already set forth

our position, " Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters on

Dec. 11.

" Giving the Sakharov prize to a criminal who has broken Chinese law and has been

detained is in itself a blasphemy and makes a mockery of human rights. "

A source close to Hu Jia who visited him in prison in September said he had been

put in solitary confinement at least once, in August. A strict vegetarian, his

diet causes him nutritional problems in jail, the source added.

[Guest guest]

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-37072020081217

China urged to treat jailed dissident's ailments

Wed Dec 17, 2008 BEIJING (Reuters) - Two human rights groups on Wednesday called

on China to ensure access to health care for jailed dissident Hu Jia, an

advocate for AIDS sufferers.

China should release results of routine blood tests and provide appropriate care

to manage his liver cirrhosis, which is related to his chronic hepatitis B,

Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights said in a letter to Chinese

president Hu Jintao.

Hu Jia was awarded the 2008 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the

European Parliament in October. He was sentenced to a three-and-a-half year

prison term in April for subversion, and his wife and young daughter remain

under house arrest.

" We are dissatisfied that the European Parliament insisted on giving Hu Jia the

Sakharov prize despite much Chinese opposition, and we have already set forth

our position, " Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters on

Dec. 11.

" Giving the Sakharov prize to a criminal who has broken Chinese law and has been

detained is in itself a blasphemy and makes a mockery of human rights. "

A source close to Hu Jia who visited him in prison in September said he had been

put in solitary confinement at least once, in August. A strict vegetarian, his

diet causes him nutritional problems in jail, the source added.