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 Promoting human rights and empowering grassroots activism in China

China Human Rights Briefing 

Human Rights Defender Liu Jie Denied Treatment for Eye Illness at RTL Camp

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 28, 2007)- Liu Jie (刘杰), veteran rural campaigner and human rights activist serving her 18-month Re-education through Labor (RTL) terms in Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang province, will go blind if she does not receive proper treatment immediately, according to a doctor who examined her on December 20. Liu Jie's family demands her release from the Re-education through Labor camp on the basis of her near blindness.  

Liu is a veteran petitioner from Beian City, Heilongjian Province. Because of her petitioning and human rights activities, she has been beaten a number of times by Heilongjiang Provincial Nongken (Military Farm Bureau) Public Security Bureau Beian Sub-division. In March 2002, in one of such beatings, she suffered permanent eye injury and drastically reduced vision. On October 11, 2007, three days after Liu released a public letter signed by 12,150 petitioners calling on leaders at the 17th Chinese Communist Party Congress to implement political and legal reforms, she was detained by the Beian Nongken PSB. While in detention, she was again beaten which caused further injuries to her eyes. In mid-November 2007, Beian Nongken PSB sent Liu to RTL for "instigating trouble" and "disturbing social order." At the RTL camp, Ms. Liu is put to work 14-hours a day, six days a week. 

On November 20, when the RTL camp authorities sent Liu for a physical check-up, the doctor told her she will go blind unless she receives appropriate treatment immediately. Reportedly, Liu's eye injuries require treatment unavailable in Heilongjiang Province so she must be sent to Beijing for treatment. Family has requested RTL authorities to grant her bail for medical treatment. Her lawyers have also filed request for an administrative review of the decision to send her to the RTL camp. Authorities have not responded to either of these requests.

Click here for a previous CHRD briefing on Liu Jie.

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Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) is a non-political, non-government network of grassroots and international activists promoting human rights protection and empowering grassroots activism in China.  CHRD's objective is to build NGO capacities, monitor rights development, and assist victims of abuse.   CHRD advocates non-violent and rule of law approaches.  CHRD conducts investigation and research, provides information, organizes training, supports a program of small grants, and offers legal assistance.

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