Tian Xi: ChinaTian

Status: February, 2011 Tan was sentenced to a year in prison for smashing equiptment at the hospital where he was contracted with HIV. [Read more here]

Activism:
Tian Xi was infected with HIV in 1996 upon receiving a blood transmission in a Xincai county hospital. After learning of his infection at a free medical clinic in 2004, Tian Xi has gone about broadcasting the danger of poor medical practices in facilities in the country.

He is currently being held while awaiting trial, the date of which has not been set. He could be sentenced to a year in prison, or up to three years of house arrest with observation.

Current Situation in Country:
Xi’s father is working in conjunction with prominent journalist and blogger Wan Keqin to explain their side of the story. After responding to requests and appearing at the office of the county party secretary Jia Guoyin twice and being avoided, he went to the hospital where he was originally infected. The hospital chief refused to give him medication and compensation, and in reaction Xi pushed everything off the chief’s desk (an estimate RMB3,000 in damages according to the report).  He was arrested on August 16th without any explanation. He was sent home, then arrested again on August 17. Many believe this is part of the government’s stability control.

More Information:
http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1225174421
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/09/06/china-tian-xi-deserves-happiness/

Suggestions for Action:
Contact the UN and ask them to take on this case.
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
8-14, avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
facsimile: +41 22 9179006
e-mail: wgad@ohchr.org

Write statements supporting the release of Xi, based on humanitarian principle and citing law which states that criminal detention is only applied to the destruction of property over RMB 5,000 (his was RMB 3,000).

Start a petition for his release.

Host demonstrations near Chinese embassies in your country, demanding that they address the HIV/AIDS crisis in their country and support those activists working to improve the conditions of those living with HIV.