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Tyrone Siu / Reuters
Thousands of protesters hold banners as they march along a street, to protest and urge the Chinese authorities to carry out a proper investigation into the death of dissident Li Wangyang, in Hong Kong on June 10.
BEIJING – “I will not commit suicide” has become a new mantra among China’s human rights activists.
They are responding half-mockingly and half-seriously to fears that they could be “suicided” by the Chinese government for their activism.
The movement comes in response to the suspicious death of Li Wangyang, a Chinese dissident jailed after the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. Li, 61, was found dead in a hospital ward on June 6 under what his family says were suspicious circumstances, just two days after the 23rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. He had served over 20 years in Chinese prison for his activism.
Hu Jia, a high-profile HIV/AIDS activist who served three and a half years in prison for the same crime Li was jailed for, “subversion of state power,” recently tweeted about the need to counter any foul play by the government.
Tiananmen activist found dead under suspicious circumstances
“It looks like I should leave a notarized document with my lawyer, saying: ‘Citizen Hu Jia will never commit suicide at any time, because of anyone, in any situation, or for anything,’” Hu tweeted. “If you are a dissident, activist or political prisoner constantly detained by secret police, I suggest you make a declaration or notarize such a document. This country does not lack people who were “suicided.’”
Wu Gan, another outspoken dissident known by the nickname “super vulgar butcher” on China’s blogosphere, also tried to pre-empt any future suicide claims by the government for his activism. “Here’s my announcement,” he wrote on Weibo, China’s most popular Twitter-like service. “I’m healthy (apart from fatty liver disease), optimistic, and have a lot of hope in the future. I wait for the day when the sky clears up and they are brought to justice. I will absolutely never commit suicide.”
The movement didn’t take long to reach Twitter, where a "#Iwillnotcommitsuicide” hash tag was created on June 8, just two days after Li’s mysterious death, and has been widely re-tweeted over the last three days.
Philippe Lopez / AFP - Getty Images
People take part in a protest for the cause of late Chinese dissident Li Wangyang in Hong Kong on June 10.
Another activist, Liu Ping, from the southern province of Jiangxi, wrote on her Weibo account: “I solemnly declare, if I’m caught (by police) I will never commit suicide!”
Wang Lihong, a former Beijing businesswoman, jailed for eight months for her activism, expanded on the theme on her Twitter account. “I, Wang Lihong, once tried to kill myself in prison. It wasn’t because I was weak. I was only defending my dignity. But I will never do that again, no matter how you lure, ask, or even force – I will not commit suicide, unless you do it.”
Li’s body was found in the Daxiang District Hospital in Shaoyang, Hunan Province, where he was receiving treatment for long-term ailments related to the more than 20 years he spent in prison. He had been released on May 5, 2011.
But he may have grown too confident in his new-found freedom. On June 4, the 23rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, i-CABLE, a Hong Kong based news channel, broadcast an interview with Li in which he was extremely outspoken in his description of his torture during his time in prison.
Two days after the interview, he was found dead in his hospital room.
According to the local government in Shaoyang, Li’s body was cremated on the morning of June 9 with his relatives’ consent. They also said an autopsy was conducted by four legal and forensic experts the day before, which was witnessed and filmed by local congressional representatives and journalists.
NBC News could not verify the reports with Li’s sister or her husband because their cell phones remained off on Monday.
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I thought that the self-immolaters were mainly based in Burma and Thailand, though.
Perhaps you should take up the cause. Since obviously you are a moron.
Visit the Maricopa County Sheiff's Office (Jail) Arpio's gang will make sure they carry you out on a gurny (dead) from electrocution via taser and assault. Thanks to the Phoenix Police Department.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20120608arizona-inmate-death-claim-atencio-maricopa-county.html
Sadly, any person who really supports freedom would never cheerlead for Joe Arpaio.
When the drones can watch the moves of ordinary citizens, Citizens United stands by a pair of crooks, (Scalia and Thomas,) lobbyists line the halls of Congress, feeding the greed of our politicians--I have more concern about the fate of our Republic than I do that of China.
The whole story sounds funny. It doesn't make sense. Governments, when they want to take the life of a citizen invent accidents or use drugs to cause heart attacks and stuff like that. They wouldn't "suicide" a high profile prisoner like that. At least I don't think so.
In the US what they do is experiment with the dissident, as was done with Albizu Campos.
As for the activist declaring that they will not commit suicide, now if the government decides to get rid of them they could use that declaration as the excuse. Reverse psychology I believe it's called. They left a note so that they could commit suicide and blame the government.
damn-how could they mistake him for being an unborn fetus?
I really doubt that a government that is willing to clandestinely murder social activists is going to think twice because you have a little notarized piece of paper.
Is it just me, or do these people sound surprisingly naive?
It is less naivete' and more the way chinese internet user's sense of humor uses sarcasm against the government.
Memes like these pop-up all the time in China; it's just another form of protest and attempt to shame the PRC gov. The PRC may have no sense of shame, but things like this chip-away at their support base; hopefully, eventually enough to give pro-democratic activists a chance to affect greater change.
@Her Peas, That's the point, if the government does murder the activists, they can't go under the guise of "Suicide" anymore. Everyone in the world will know 100% without a doubt that it was an assassination.
It's not naive to tell the world before hand that if they mysteriously turn up dead, it was because they were murdered.
Still shaking my head that China got favored nation trading status. I doubt these activists are speaking to their own government. They ARE doing a good job of being noticed elsewhere. Are YOU going to buy less cheap crap at Walmart?
Capitolism is the fault here, America opened to china for cheaper labor under a communist govt violating the Truman Doctrine. Brought to you by nixon and the rest of the gop'ers. Coorporations found a source of slave labor with a willing govt, what did you expect?
It will let people know their intentions even if the government plans a "suicide" for them.
Joy: Not sure if it matters if you and I buy at Wally-mart, most Sheeple still will graze their aisles. (IMHO)
And we still do not have trade or anything to do with Cuba. What a joke.
when you are living on 2-3 hundred a week and have a kid or 2 you are not going to do with out but are going to buy what you can for the cheapest you can.Bravo to all who can afford to buy designer
Yeah, but there are places where you can buy cheaper food and clothes without setting foot in a Wal-mart. I worked for that sh**-hole of a place but I'm better off now. You can find cheaper places you just gotta open your eyes out there. Trust me I live off of two hundred a year and my grocery bill (I've got a wife too) is only $80 to $90 and trust me thats with a cart filled to the brim. At Wal-mart you would be looking at $150. (Food for Less is where I shopped) But the Chinese will obtain basic rights, we just need to stop using them.
Eerily similar to the witnesses of s e p t e m ber ele ven who were suicided after retelling their stories in interviews.
How much more can this world become corrupt and evil towards its fellow man?
If there is a God who created us, what was he thinking?
You might end up in a park from self-inflicked wounds; while back at your place someone is cleaning out your paperwork. It has happened before, in Washington, and more than once.
wow, you live on 60 cents a day?!!!
yes they do, they sound like americans lol
It's not about them being naive, naive is thinking anything will change because of your posts on a message board. The Chinese people protesting are putting their lives on the line for justice and freedom, something the majority of this country forgot how to do long ago. Fat Americans.
You are wrong, Ophotfoot. Ideas are like seeds that could take root in some people minds or lie dormant until the right conditions come by. All of us have contacts and friends in the real world that hear and read what we write. People who don't know us read our comments too and what we express can have an effect on them. That's why freedom of speech is so important.
so my question is this. why does the US have free trade agreements with a country that is notorious for its human rights violations?
regardless of if you shop Walmart or Target or Kmart or Pennys etc. - if it's cheap it's likely made in China or somewhere else in Asia like Tawain or Vietnam. American made goods are much more expensive.
I'm not talking about food, I'm talking about household goods and clothing.
Oh and the cheapest groceries aren't found in an American store either. Aldi's is by far the cheapest place to buy food and they are a German company.
If you want people to be patriotic, start by giving multinational corporations an incentive to bring jobs back to our shores.
Ken, you are obviously a Liberal Democrat.
Greed is Not the Republican motto but ruining the nation with big government debt through frivolous spending on failed social programs is the motto of the scumbags we call Democrats
I have never met a Liberal who understood Economics. If you think greed is the Republican motto, then you don't either.
Our gov't is greedy as a whole. Which is why we are in debt trillions of dollars while they live it up with their millions. They make money selling out our citizens to other countries republican or democrat.
Think of gas prices and gas in general we could easily use other fuel or drill our own oil but they choose to line their pockets from the oil industry.
We are on our way to being like China because we are no longer as free as we used to be.
Jibaro,
Well said.
Do YOU??? Because after reading that, it's pretty clear you don't know even a percentage of what you think you do.
Most economists are Democrats. Most economics undergrads are "conservatives" but by the time they actually know enough to get a master's degree, that republican ship has probably set sail.
It would be a waste of time for me to address everything wrong with what you just said, because if you were interested in actually educating yourself about economics instead of just getting what you know from politicians and pundits, you would have done so already.
Jibaro, the Chinese government uses suicide as an excuse to get rid of people. Here in America, political enemies disappear. Jimmy Hoffa, for example. In China, they say, "Oh, that person committed suicide" as a cover up. This serves two purposes. First, it frees the government of suspicion, and it shames the political activist. Suicide is considered to be very shameful in the Chinese culture.
When are the ignorant in America going to face R E A L I T Y and stop this childish political bantering and baiting? When are the ignorant in America going to realize you are doing exactly what the powers that be want you to do?
A house divided against itself CANNOT stand.
All you are doing by constantly assigning blame to one party or the other is continuing to keep this nation divided with your constant infighting.
Wake the eff up people! Drop the politics, pick up the cause of a country united against the damage being done to it by all of the political warfare and say enough.
History will not look kindly at the mindless political followings that ended up costing this nation her greatness and her freedoms.
FYI greed knows no color, creed, or political background SO WAKE THE PHUCK UP!
Jibaro, Chris 735081, and Xina the Awesome (I hope this is just a fun name instead of grandios delusion) - I think all of you share the wisdom/meaning behind this discussion. Wish there were more of you...
Americans who think we must only buy American to keep America strong must be regressed in thought to the 1950s. The way to thrive as a nation in this day and age is to design, create, produce, and distribute QUALITY products to an increasingly GLOBAL MARKET. If you go only national, you isolate as a country and stagnate, like a pool that releases no waste water and takes in no fresh. The problem is not that China offers a plethora of cheap products (in design, price, or both) or that we buy them. It is that we, for the last 20+ years have allowed trade to increasingly become one-sided - progressively importing more (by quantity and consequently, by volume and $) than we export overall and to any one country. There must be a balance.
I think we have to be careful as well of interpreting incomes of those working the international call centers and production and manufacturing industries by American currency standards. We can most certainly be spoiled and greedy consumers in our market-driven economy of Capitalism. For some of these workers and families that income is significant to significantly higher than they were receiving for their work - improving the life of their families and communities.
That being said, Communist governments do not offer competitive or even reasonable wages for the work and control the industry - this too has the potential over time to collapse on itself. The collapse, in the case of China, may be starting with Tweets that seem insignificant...
It only takes a candle or single flame to start a fire!
Azkatfan, I am not a scumbag liberal democrat, so save your vitriol. I do however think that the GOP supports big corporations whose executive officers and shareholders,(1%ers'),reap the profits of products produced in China and elsewhere over seas where labor is cheap,(to the point of being slave wages), so that they can maximize profits at the expense of the American workers. What will they do when one day no one in America can afford to but the products they have made in China Because we are all employed by Mitt Romney as his landscapers for minimum wage?
ummm what do you call people who set themselve on fire?? i think that suicide dont you think??
these people needs a lesson, RELEASE THE HOUNDS!!!!!
where in the article does it say anyone set themselves on fire?
learn 2 read plz. k thx
@Mister Whoops...maybe you should try it yourself............save us the trouble
MW is of course another moron who cant read.
what's the use. The Chinese govt will just say the documents were forged after you are "suicided"
simple solution, have a video recording of the writing, signing and notorizing of the no-suicide notes. Imaginary problem solved.
super vulgar butcher
.....How the hell do you get a nickname like that?
It probably sounds a lot more meaningful/interesting in Mandarin...
No doubt lost in translation.
I think he is asking what he did to deserve the name.
As for the translation part: "Break a leg" would sound threatening if directly translated in other languages as mandarin/Chinese often is.
In asian culture, certain occupations are regarded with disdain such as a butcher and fishmonger for their foul mouth antics. This is especially true in Bushist countries like China and Vietnam where cultures are shared through a common ancestry that emphasized low meat consumption. Most people usually referred to these occupations with their tendencies to be very vulgar in their daily business activity. There is a saying in Chinese/VNmese culture: "cusses like a fishmonger!" The western equivalent translation would be: "cuss like a sailor!"
Hmmm. How does that explain the famous phrase that Chinese will eat anything with legs? And the butchers are supposed to be vulgar? lol The majority of the population in Mainland China is vulgar. I assume you don't live here, or haven't for very long.
just the phrase "what's up?" is confusing when translated directly.
??? sky? tall building???? that way? (points up).
A dictatorship that has no problem torturing its own citizens to death, and american corporations such as Google are all too happy to write programs to help the Chinese government find innocent people to torture to death just to make a buck. Yes we the people should be so happy about the direction our "capitalism" has taken.
Capitalism is a shotgun above the mantle. An inanimate object. It doesn't gain a purpose, good or bad, until someone uses it. I suppose one could apply this analogy to just about anything - alcohol, cars, drugs, a baseball bat, a heavy phone book, a search engine, communism, socialism, etc...
People using a primal, survival mechanism inherent in human nature to gain advantage and promote their genetics. I digress though. This ramble starts sounding almost Darwinian.
I have a feeling that the Second Chinese Civil War will be starting against the Nationalists and the Communists again, the CCP are slowly collapsing as more and more people are speaking out.
Mouzie:
We will have to see if they will have war before we have class war. They have relatively happy middle class and we have unhappy middle class.
Let us see. I hope they get ahead of us.
I worry about this every day GODGRAVITON. The only problem I see, is another civil war in this country will not have such easily seen lines as North and South. I will be neighbor vs. neighbor, father against son, left vs. right. Biggest problem here is that the biggest protesters are the left, and not many of them believe in guns. I'm a true independent, and I'm stocking up for the day that the far right goes too far, or the far left (which is not likely in this country with the lingering perceptions Senator McCarthy laid out for us a half-century ago.)
I disagree Mouzie 1 out of every 1000 person is marked for extra surveillance in the PRC. They have a large public surveillance system that ideally would get wind of any dissidence before it gets out of hand. Not saying its not possible there is alot of grievance many people are in severe poverty. In next 50 years if the PRC does not update factories technology will out produce the work force.
peoples REPUBLIC of china? republicans in america want us to be a REPUBLIC. O.0 look at your future america, it don't look that bright from here.
we are a republic George.. can you imagine 300 million people all screaming for different things.. it simply would not work .. you would have to vote multiple times per day and we can not even get people to vote once in 4 years..
Moral to the story: Don't let the government get so powerful that ordinary citizens cannot overthrow it.
BTW, ever wonder why in the US you cannot carry a gun into a government building? Interesting.
No, I've never ever wondered that. Why would I? The reasons are too obvious.
@xsited1==What possible worthy purpose could you have in mind when you carried your gun into that government building? Interesting...
People are actually questioning the right for an law-abiding American citizen to carry a gun into a government building? That's just sad.
really? and if that law abiding citizen is pissed off about what ever and out of frustration decides to use that gun in the heat of the moment? Then they are just another shooter and no longer "law abiding" there have been several times I would have used a gun if I was dumb enough to carry it when dealing with government offices. It's when they come to my house and tell me to give up my guns that I will have a problem.. And if you are carrying a gun and you come to my house I will tell you to leave it locked in your car. Guns kill people, especially when carried by angry people, going to jail afterwards doesn't bring the other person back.
Wilde Buckeye - That's a non sequitur. The premise is the law-abiding citizen is law-abiding. I'm concerned, however, by what you said:
IMO, your right to carry a gun should be revoked based on this statement alone.
Every criminal and murderer was a law abiding citizen at one time.
AirThief - Every dead person was alive at one time.
law-abiding citizen dosn't mean give up your fire arms. I for one don't want to end up like some of the Boston massacre peaple when we the peaple start to rise up against this so called free goverment once we realize they don't have any intrest in representing the peaple anymore. I won't need a stinking suicide note. Give me liberty or give me death! Freedom is earned not given.
Freedom is a (God) given right. No one should have the "freedom" to take that away then should they?
How do they gain that freedom to take out freedom???
If all of us in America stop buying Chinese goods then Chinese butchers will take a quick note and MAY stop the practice of murdering folks who disagree with the government. I look for alternatives to Made in China at the time of purchase when available.
I'm just wondering--have you seen any site(s) that promote these alternatives? I, for one, would be interested to know more about it. Directing our $ towards companies with more ethical practices would at least be a start.
Why not stop buying american goods made in foreign countries also. Bring the industry back to the states and start employing AMERICANS
When it comes to the Chinese government, all bets are OFF. "Suicided" or not, they WILL kill, and, they WILL get away with it.
Sadly, not terribly different from many other governments, including the US government.
Yoshi
Yep, we have PATRIOT Act here, and a law saying they can kill a US citizen anywhere if suspected as a terrorist.
China will do what the communist party deems is in the best interests of their corrupt officials. "Suiciding" someone has been going on there since World War One, and unlike the US, who advertises their successes, China just tries to keep it under the table. They have been fairly successful so far, too. Maybe the US should study their methods.
Mat:
They have lifted millions from poverty to middle class. We have lifted millions form middle class to upper poor class. They are corrupt we msn ad will not finish me message unless I red their ad. talk talk abotu poer of rich and powerful
Everyone of these protester want to be in America- soon they probably will
Really? Where do you get that notion from? Or do you think that Chinese are not as patriotic as we are and are trying to change their country, and not leave it?
Typical response from somebody who knows very little but talks big.
The context of this is to illustrate how everyone & anyone wants in the US. Your friends south of the border are a classic example of how illegals just walk in, produce babies who become naturalized citizens and take away jobs. Pakistanis, Iraqis and soon Afghans will come in droves. Hope you enjoy your tax dollars going to social programs designed to give them all jobs, housing, etc. Or, perhaps your notion is that your friends in China can be patriotic and watch US companies continue to send jobs over there. Typical response from somebody who knows very little and talks out their azz!
This is what we have become, aworld manipulated by the wealthy and we are all pawns.
welcome to reality, it's always been that way. just worse or better at different times
We are increasingly finding out that human rights violation are committed by all countries. We do it, English do it, Chinese do it, Russian do it, Muslims countries do it, Israel do it.
When a Government who shifts 500 Million people from poverty to middle class and committed to providing all of its people with food , shelter and medicine along with relatively free business climate, enable export to countries that constantly criticise it, some human rights violation are inevitable.
If China is to Govern like US currently, they will fall apart and their economy will collapse. While activist will get in some places of power I doubt they can build consensus pf 1.5 Billion people .
If your the best shill the CCP can afford they really are in decline. At least get a better translator program.
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”
Gil Scott-Heron
You know , Reading you all's comments , Sorry but it Shows how Naive we became here in the US , We believe every little story that comes out of a country we do not like . and we run with it . Do you honestly believe the Chinese government going to do that . Wow , Then you should go to our best friend the Saudis and Qataris and Bahrain and see what they are doing to people just for protesting . Our best friend and ally and NATO ally Turkey just imprisoned two young ladies for asking for free education during a speech for Mr. Erdughan ( Prime Minster ) , AND HE WANT TO ATTACK SYRIA AND CLAIMING THAT ASSAD IS A DICTATOR THAT KILLING HIS OWN PEOPLE . ITS A FING JOKE , BUT WE SIT HERE AND LAUGH TO IT .
The Chinese moles on these websites are so recognizable.
better be glad they don't live in india- Off with their heads- better yet maybe they will be mistaken for a fetus
Ima Pee-Pee in your Coke.
Probably would taste better!! Drink Pepsi!!!
Bahrain has no qualms about imprisoning 11-year-old kids for joining a protest. That's a real nice friend we've got there.
Hey, they let our Navy stop for fuel, etc. As far as our government is concerned, that's what counts so we can protect our "interests", i.e., the interests of big oil!!! Forget about the word "humanitarian."
Walmart and all American companies - how do you feel about this? Every time you cut a deal with these people this is what you get. Disgusting.
Hey, they provide cheaper goods. Thank God for China!
Hey Binkie,
Yea they produce cheaper goods, but these cheaper goods are, for the most part junk - nothing but junk!!!! AT any rate, God has nothing to do in China - it's Communists, you dope!!!!!
yeah all those toys made with lead-based products and then shipped over here to make our kids sick-they're supposed to be so smart-they know exactually what they are doing. Our government is too stupid to realize that public safety should be the number one concern for it's people. We are a sell-out nation. it's a damned shame-give away jobs, then let those suckers come over here when china hurts their feelings
it is ironic that the PEOPLE of the world are protesting the things that the elite and those in power are trying to throw upon them. it may just be that the next revolution may be a world one and the elite maybe the true enemy..( Spain, Greece, Italy, Canada, US, japan, most of Europe).
it's beging to be a world of pissed off people....
Who needs suicide, when the cops in Maricopa County sheriff Arpio's gang and Phoneix police Department, Arizona will kill you out right in there jail, video taped, and then laugh about it. Now thats murder. This guy was a gulf war veteran, or the young man(also a veteran/active duty) in Tuscon, murdered because the sheriff's office went to the wrong house and pumped 60 rounds into him.
didn't hear this one-guess he wasn't black- rest in peace
Read this Folks
http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20120608arizona-inmate-death-claim-atencio-maricopa-county.html
Suicide...........................
China suicids its people, here in the US of A we fix airplanes to crash and to suicide with two shots to the head with a shotgun.
I would like to know? Given the GOP scenario we are facing now!!! Is it possible for this to happen herein the very near future??????
Very near future
your heros the clintons know this very well. watergate.
what else is new.... chinese people should just stop complaining about their government and do something for themselves by themselves. No, the US is not gonna help you with anything, even when children are killed in Syria we will do absolutely nothing. yes, bloody things will have to happen, but that's all part of the price you pay for a democracy that you want, even the US paid that price with things like the Civil War back then. You got to own it for your country or you won't cherish it when you get it. Yes it will be messy for a while, you may die for it too, but your children and grandchildren may thank you... or not.... don't worry about it and just live your life as the government tell you.
The only ones who should lose their lives in the Chinese people's (very lengthy) struggle for freedom are the officials of the Chinese Communist Party.
I've personally witnessed more atrocities in China than I care to remember, but I've tried to chronicle some of them here: http://justlooklikefrog.wordpress.com.
China was once (a long time ago) a land of freedom loving people. If the Chinese people get their nerve up, it may well again be so.