China: Authorities have "blood on their hands" after Cao Shunli's death
China: Authorities have "blood on their hands" after activist's death
Chinese human rights activist Cao Shunli who passed away after being denied medical treatment
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Cao Shunli's death exposes just how callous and calculating the Chinese authorities are prepared to be to silence critics. The authorities today have blood on their hands.
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Anu Kultalahti, China Researcher at Amnesty International
Fri, 14/03/2014
The Chinese authorities must immediately ensure detained activists receive all necessary medical care, Amnesty International said, after the reprehensible death of a leading campaigner who was repeatedly denied treatment.
Cao Shunli, 52, died from organ failure on Friday at a hospital in Beijing, after five months in detention. Repeated requests by Cao’s family for her to receive medical treatment for serious health problems were denied.
"Cao Shunli's death exposes just how callous and calculating the Chinese authorities are prepared to be to silence critics. The authorities today have blood on their hands." said Anu Kultalahti, China Researcher at Amnesty International.
"Cao Shunli was a courageous woman who paid the ultimate price for the fight for human rights in China. She should have never been detained in the first place; but to then deny her the medical treatment she desperately needed is a most barbaric act.”
In recent months, other high profile activists, including Liu Xia, wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, have been denied medical treatment.
Liu Xia, who is under illegal house arrest, was denied treatment for a serious heart condition. She was finally allowed to receive hospital treatment in late February.
“The denial of medical treatment for activists in detention is common in order to weaken or punish them. The Chinese authorities must immediately end this unlawful and inhumane practice,” said Kultalahti.
Cao suffered from tuberculosis in both her lungs, cirrhosis of the liver and uterine fibroids.
Beijing police detained Cao last September as she attempted to travel to Geneva to attend a human rights training programme. She faced charges of “picking quarrels and making trouble” believed to be for organizing a sit-in protest along with other campaigners outside China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Cao had led attempts to allow activists to contribute to China’s national human rights report, ahead of a review at the UN Human Rights Council.
Our blogs are written by Amnesty International staff, volunteers and other interested individuals, to encourage debate around human rights issues. They do not necessarily represent the views of Amnesty International.
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