- Title: CHINA: BEIJING THREATENS TO EXECUTE OR JAIL FOR LIFE SARS QUARANTINE VIOLATORS
- Date: 15th May 2003
- Summary: INTERVIEW WITH DR HENK BEKEDAM OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, COMMENTING ON THE NEW REGULATIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR HENK BEKEDAM OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SAYING: "I think it sounds very tough. But I think what I do believe in that people have a certain responsibility. And I think it's very important that people understand what their responsibility is. But at this very moment it means that if you have at this very moment a fever, then I do believe, that while perhaps in the past you went to work, you were still travelling, then I think you have to quarantine yourself. You have to look and observe yourself at least for one or two days, and if you're not improving, then I think you have to go to a fever clinic to be assessed and then to see if then you have SARS, then you need to be isolated etc." BEKEDAM SITTING FOR INTERVIEW HONG KONG, CHINA (MAY 15, 2003) (REUTERS) SHOTS OF REPORTER WITH FRANK LU INFORMATION CENTRE OF HUMAN RIGHTS & DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN CHINA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FRANK LU SAYING: "This is ridiculous behaviour. Many countries have already condemned China for its death penalty. China already executes more people than any other country in the world. Thousands of people are executed every year. (In this case), it's very hard to distinguish between being intentional and unintentional. Not only is it absurd from the point of view of human rights, but also for China's legal system." CUTAWAY OF REPORTER WITH LU (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FRANK LU SAYING: "They are changing (the law) overnight! This is a move that involves many aspects. A person now faces the death penalty for beating up someone or killing someone just because there's a SARS outbreak. This would give people the impression that they (the authorities) don't take the law seriously. They can make changes overnight!" CUTAWAY OF REPORTER WITH LU
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 21:57
- Keywords:
- Location: BEIJING AND HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Crime,Health,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAZAIWRPWDTOONBFPX8VUPFU9Z
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: China has threatened to execute or jail for life anyone who breaks SARS quarantine or spreads the deadly virus intentionally.
Chinese newspapers and state television on Thursday (May 15) carried reports on the move to execute SARS quarantine violators.
The Supreme Court and the top prosecutor laid down the punishments -- an interpretation of laws on hindering the prevention or treatment of sudden disease outbreaks and other disasters.
"Intentionally spreading sudden contagious disease pathogens, endangering public security or serious personal injury, death or heavy loss of public or private property will be punishable by from 10 years to life in prison or the death penalty," the report said.
The new rule came under immediate fire from human rights activists in Hong Kong.
"This is ridiculous behaviour," said Frank Lu, of the Information Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China.
"This would give people the impression that they (the authorities) don't take the law seriously. They can make changes overnight!," he said.
The interpretation is part of a government war on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which has killed 267 so far in China.
Hong Kong said on Thursday that the deadly SARS virus had infected another five people and killed seven more in the territory, still short of the conditions for lifting a WHO travel warning against the city.
The new figures took the cumulative cases to 1,703 and the death toll to 234 in Hong Kong, a hospital official told a news conference. Meanwhile, 32 patients were discharged on Thursday, bringing the total number of discharged patients to 1,160.
There have been several reports in China of people busting out of quarantine or escaping medical care for fear of the disease.
The new interpretation also laid down harsh jail terms for people refusing medical exams or treatment, and health officials found guilty of negligence and allowing the disease to spread.
Hundreds of officials, including the health minister and Beijing mayor, have been fired for mishandling or covering up the disease.
The new interpretations also hand down punishments on people producing and selling fake drugs, or those preventing anti-SARS work.
The World Health Organisation on Thursday (May 15) said the new rules were harsh - but said people had to take responsibility for their actions.
"I think it sounds very tough. But I think what I do believe in that people have a certain responsibility. And I think it's very important that people understand what their responsibility is. But at this very moment it means that if you have at this very moment a fever, then I do believe, that while perhaps in the past you went to work, you were still travelling, then I think you have to quarantine yourself. You have to look and observe yourself at least for one or two days, and if you're not improving, then I think you have to go to a fever clinic to be assessed and then to see if then you have SARS, then you need to be isolated etc," said Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO's China Representative. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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