03 January 2007
Anti-nuclear activist denied medical treatment
(HRIC) Human Rights in China (HRIC) reports that Gansu-based activist Sun Xiaodi is facing harassment by local officials and unknown persons, and has been unable to obtain official permission to seek medical treatment in Beijing for a potentially life-threatening health condition. Sun Xiaodi has spent more than a decade petitioning the central authorities over radioactive contamination from the No. 792 Uranium Mine in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province. On 01 December 2006, HRIC presented Sun's acceptance message for the prestigious Nuclear-Free Future Award in Window Rock, Arizona. Sources in China told HRIC that Sun has faced an intensification of harassment since he was presented with the Nuclear-Free Future Award. He is under constant surveillance by State Security officials, and since December 5 has experienced several midnight raids on his home by unknown persons throwing stones at his door and windows. Sources say that when Sun reported the attacks to local state security officers, they told him, "You're free to leave if you want to!" In November, a medical examination revealed a 4-5-centimeter tumor in Sun's abdominal cavity (residents of the area where Sun Xiaodi lives suffer an unusually high rate of cancer and other health conditions associated with radioactive contamination). Given the limitations of local medical facilities, Sun put in a request with local public security officials for permission to go to Beijing for further diagnosis and treatment, but after nearly two months he has received no reply.