By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 1: International rights group Human Rights Watch has urged China to respect human rights and stop censorship while dealing with the novel Coronavirus epidemic that has so far claimed the lives of 250 people in the country. HRW on Thursday said China should “ensure that human rights are protected while responding to the coronavirus outbreak”.
The rights group said the Chinese government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak was initially delayed by withholding information from the public, underreporting cases of infection, downplaying the severity of the infection, and dismissing the likelihood of transmission between humans. “Rather than rebutting false information and disseminating reliable facts, the authorities in some instances have appeared more concerned with silencing criticism”, HRW said.
According to media reports, Police have also detained and harassed whistleblowers who spoke on the spread of the virus and how the government is covering up details, thereby making millions of its citizens and foreigners vulnerable to the pathogen.
On January 1, police in Wuhan announced that they had summoned eight people for questioning for “publishing and spreading untrue information online” related to the ailment. Similarly, on January 25, Tianjin police detained a man for 10 days for “maliciously publishing aggressive, insulting speech against medical personnel.”
International media was restricted from reporting on the ground realities by denying access to some places and also warned medical personnel such as doctors and hospital staffs against speaking to the media.
HRW also said that during quarantine, governments have absolute obligations to ensure access to food, water, and health care. Many in the city of Wuhan is reported to have very limited access to medicines and medical assistance related to other diseases at the moment.
The rights group further pointed, “International human rights law, notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which China has signed but not ratified, requires that restrictions on human rights in the name of public health or a public emergency meet requirements of legality, evidence-based necessity, and proportionality”.
