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CNHRA EVENT RECORD · CNHRA-E-671773

Li Wangyang: Hospital Death, Autopsy and Disputed Investigation

李旺阳医院死亡、尸检与调查争议

Date

2012-06-06

Location

Shaoyang, Hunan, China

Event Type

Other

Human Rights Issues

Right to Life · Right to Health · Freedom of Expression · Right to Liberty and Security

Record ID

CNHRA-E-671773

Summary

Li was found dead in a Shaoyang hospital on June 6, 2012. Relatives disputed the official suicide account; the subsequent autopsy, cremation and published findings prompted calls for an independent investigation.[1][2][3][4]

Description

Li was found dead in a Shaoyang hospital on June 6, 2012. Authorities described the death as suicide; family and friends questioned the circumstances and sought an investigation.[1][2]

Authorities described the death as suicide; family and friends disputed it. Amnesty reported an autopsy on June 8 without family or lawyers present, cremation the next day and publication on July 12 of findings supporting the official account. It continued to seek a transparent investigation and raised relatives’ disappearance from contact.[3][4][2]

Developments

Found dead in hospital

Li was found dead in a Shaoyang hospital. Officials described the death as suicide; relatives and friends questioned that account.[1][2]

Autopsy reportedly conducted without family or counsel

Amnesty’s July 11 urgent action reports an autopsy without family or counsel present and cremation the following day.[3]

Body cremated

Amnesty’s urgent action records cremation the day after the June 8 autopsy.[3]

Open letter seeking independent investigation

ASA 17/015/2012 seeks investigation of the June 6 death and protection of relatives and friends; it is an advocacy letter, not an autopsy or judgment.[2]

Autopsy findings reportedly published

Amnesty’s statement the next day reports findings supporting the official suicide account and continues to call for a transparent investigation.[4]

Related People

Li Wangyang

李旺阳

CNHRA-P-285811

View Person Record →

Organizations

No organizations have been added.

Documents

Open letter: investigation into Li Wangyang’s death

2012-06-12

Sources

  1. [1]
    China must investigate veteran dissident’s death

    CNHRA-S-241025Amnesty International

    Evidence location: Body paragraphs: 1989 labor organizing, the second sentence, 2011 release and June 2012 death and dispute.

  2. [2]
    Open letter: investigation into Li Wangyang’s death

    CNHRA-S-392973Amnesty International

    Evidence location: ASA 17/015/2012; letter dated 12 June 2012, opening account and requests for investigation and protection.

  3. [3]
    Dissident’s relatives disappear — UA 192/12

    CNHRA-S-849792Amnesty International

    Evidence location: ASA 17/021/2012, page 2: autopsy, cremation and earlier imprisonment; page 1: relatives out of contact.

  4. [4]
    Li Wangyang Autopsy Results Received with Skepticism

    CNHRA-S-897841Amnesty International USA

    Evidence location: Body: autopsy conclusion released the previous day, relatives’ situation and demand for transparent investigation.

Record ID: CNHRA-E-671773