Statement of CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin on Deteriorating Health of Hu Jia

Congressional-Executive Commission on China | www.cecc.gov

Statement of CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin on Deteriorating Health of Hu Jia

April 21, 2010

We express our deep concern about the deteriorating health of Hu Jia, currently serving a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Beijing Municipal Prison for "inciting subversion of state power," and urge the Chinese government to permit his release on medical parole. Hu is a human rights advocate who has worked on behalf of HIV/AIDS patients, environmental issues, and other rights defenders. Hu suffers from liver cirrhosis, and his family recently reported that his health has deteriorated. His family has been unable to receive the results of his medical tests, but has reason to believe he may be suffering from liver cancer or another serious illness. Hu appears to meet the qualifications for medical parole as stipulated in Article 2 of the 1990 Measures on Implementing Medical Parole for Prisoners (Chinese, English). We respectfully urge the Chinese government to permit Hu's release in accordance with these measures to ensure that he receives prompt and thorough medical treatment.

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