Chinese Activist in Mental Hospital

The Associated Press
2/13/2001

Thursday, February 8, 2001; 12:51 PM

SHANGHAI, China– A doctor confirmed Thursday that a Chinese labor activist is being held in a mental hospital, but insisted he was ill and downplayed reports that he was being forced to receive electric shock treatments.

Cao Maobing, an electrician, was forcibly committed in mid-December for trying to form an independent labor union at a silk factory in eastern China, according to human rights groups.

The New York-based Human Rights in China said Thursday that Cao was being force-fed psychiatric drugs and given electric shock treatment after going on a hunger strike in January.

But a doctor at the Yancheng No. 4 Psychiatric Hospital in the eastern city of Yancheng said the reported electric shock treatment was an “exaggeration” and maintained the hospital was merely treating Cao for mental illness. The doctor refused to give his name or any details of the treatment.

Human Rights in China said Cao stopped eating to press his demand to be allowed to visit his family for the lunar new year holiday in late January - the most important family event of the year in China.

It said Cao was being held in a room with more than 20 mentally ill patients, who it said were harassing him and threatening his safety. The group said he had been held there for more than 53 days.

Cao was detained after talking to Western reporters about efforts by 300 workers to form an independent union at a state-owned silk factory in Jiangsu province.

China allows only unions controlled by the ruling communist party. Activists complain they have failed to protect workers against widespread layoffs and other wrenching changes at ailing state firms.

China has been accused of forcing other labor and human rights activists as well as members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement into psychiatric hospitals.

“This is a serious method routinely used by the Chinese Communist Party to tackle independent labor activism,” Human Rights in China said in a statement faxed to reporters.

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