Professor Forcibly Committed to Psychiatric Hospital Vows to Sue Under New Mental Health Law

China Human Rights Briefing
 
January 12-17, 2013
 

Contents

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment

• Guizhou Activist Tortured During Lengthy Interrogation 

• In Test Case to New Mental Health Law, Professor Forcibly Committed to Psychiatric Hospital Vows to Sue

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment
Guizhou Activist Tortured During Lengthy Interrogation
 
Guizhou activist Liao Shuangyuan (廖双元) was held by police for eight hours on January 10, during which time he was interrogated and subjected to torture. According to Liao’s wife, national security officials took Liao in to a local police station and then threatened him to cooperate, and mainly asked about New Year greetings he had sent out as well as his writings. While detaining Liao, officers slapped him and one reportedly almost suffocated him by wrapping a scarf tightly around his neck. Liao was also deprived of food and had personal items confiscated during the extended ordeal. As a member of the Guizhou Human Rights Forum, which was declared an “illegal organization” by authorities in December 2011, Liao has been detained, put under house arrest and subjected to surveillance many times.[1]
 
In Test Case to New Mental Health Law, Professor Forcibly Committed to Psychiatric Hospital Vows to Sue
 
Wang Peijian (王培剑), a professor at China Jiliang University in Hangzhou, is being forcibly detained in a psychiatric hospital in retaliation for expressing “politically sensitive” opinions in class. He had strongly resisted institutionalization in early December, as CHRD previously reported. Held at Hangzhou People’s No. 7 Hospital, Wang had several visitors on January 8, including dissident writer Lü Gengsong (吕耿松), who said that Wang intends to sue his university, the hospital and his own brother, all of whom apparently played a role in committing him against his will. Wang is harboring hope that China’s first Mental Health Law, to take effect in May, will provide for meaningful legal recourse against involuntary commitment. Such a lawsuit may be among the first tests of the new legislation, which some fear may still not adequately protect the rights of those who are forcibly institutionalized.[2]

Edited by Ann Song and Victor Clemens
 

[1] “Guizhou Human Rights Defender Liao Shuangyuan Tortured After Being Illegally Seized” (贵州人权捍卫者廖双元被非法绑架后遭酷刑), January 13, 2013, WQW
 

[2] “Lü Gengsong: Visiting Legal Scholar Wang Peijian Subject to Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment ” (吕耿松：探望被精神病的法学家王培剑), January 11, 2013, WQW; “Process of Forcibly Sending University Teacher Wang Peijian to Involuntary Commitment for Talking About Tiananmen Square Protests” (大学教师王培剑讲六·四等内容被精神病的具体经过), December 8, 2012, CRLW; “Urgent Attention: China Jiliang University Teacher Wang Peijian Facing Involuntary Psychiatric Commitment Due to Political Expression in Class” (紧急关注：中国计量学院教师王培剑因课堂政治言论遭遇强行精神病), December 7, 2012, WQW