China Closes Down HIV/AIDS Group

Today, a non-governmental organization to address HIV/AIDS and other health issues in China said it was shut down by local authorities in an attempt to silence the NGO. The Xuelianhua AIDS project is based in the western area of Xinjiang. Volunteer and organizer Chang Kun said police summoned him to their office Wednesday, then later breached the NGO's office and confiscated its promotional materials and computer.

"They said we were illegal and therefore had to ban us," said Chang, a 21-year-old student. He alleged the act was retaliation for the group's exposure of local schools that had expelled 19 students who tested positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV). Earlier reports said the students were expelled under city guidelines to control the spread of HBV, an act that was criticized by Beijing, since it is spread mainly through blood or sex.

"I think we have offended some government departments because there was a big reaction in the media," said Chang.

A Xinjiang Civil Affairs Bureau official confirmed the NGO was shut down. "Several departments are investigating this group at the moment ... they have no licenses so according to government rules, it should be categorized as an illegal operation," said Tu Erdi.

"It is the first AIDS NGO that the government has officially shut down," said Wan Yanhai, a veteran AIDS advocate. Though China has been praised for combating its epidemic recently, AIDS activists and patients say they are still frequently harassed by local officials. "In China, the government ... has lots of doubts about NGOs and fears those which have an independent and critical stance," said Wan.

China is treating 26,000 of the approximately 650,000 people the country officially says have HIV/AIDS.

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