AFP•February 9, 2020
The death of doctor Li Wenliang has sparked rare calls for greater freedom of speech in China (AFP Photo/STR)
The death of a whistleblowing doctor who was reprimanded for warning about the new coronavirus has sparked rare calls for political reform and free speech in China.
Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist in Wuhan -- ground zero of China's virus epidemic which has killed more than 800 -- succumbed to the disease Friday over a month after he first raised alarm about the SARS-like virus.
He was among eight physicians punished by Wuhan police for "rumour-mongering".
But after his death struck a collective nerve, a number of academics have spoken up to demand more freedoms in China
At least two open letters demanding free speech have circulated on social media since the 34-year-old's death -- one signed by 10 professors in Wuhan.
Li's efforts "vigorously maintained the interests of the country and society", read that letter, which has since been censored on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media site.
"Put an end to the restrictions on freedom of speech," it demanded, and "openly apologise" to Li and the seven other doctors punished for discussing the emergence of the virus in December.
The other letter -- signed on Friday by an anonymous group of alumni from the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing -- called on authorities to "guarantee the constitutional rights of citizens".
"Resolutely oppose making political security the top priority -- that is an extremely selfish goal of a small organisation!" it said.
The letters are a rare call for political reform in China, a country where dissidents are often jailed and criticism of the government is quickly scrubbed.
Many references to the two letters had been removed from Weibo by Sunday.
- 'Law-breaking actions' -
While the World Health Organization and other experts have heaped praise on China, saying it took decisive steps to try to contain the virus, critics say precious time was lost by early inaction from the local government.
Li -- diagnosed with the virus on February 1 -- said in a Weibo post in late January that local police had forced him to sign a statement agreeing not to commit any more "law-breaking actions".
He said police had summoned him after he saw test results from some patients suggesting a SARS-like virus and reminded colleagues in a group chat to take stronger precautions.
Since his death, Beijing has sought to quell public anger by positioning the doctor as a hero.
Criticism is being deflected towards local authorities in Hubei province who are taking the bulk of public anger over the handling of the epidemic.
China's anti-graft watchdog announced Friday it was sending a team to Wuhan where it would investigate "issues involving Dr Li Wenliang reported by the masses".
"It sends a clear message that the central authorities are determined to get to the truth and hold those responsible accountable," said the state-run China Daily newspaper in an editorial on Friday.
Meanwhile Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador in the United States, said he was "really saddened" by the doctor's death.
"We are so grateful to him for what he has done in our joint efforts" fighting the virus, Cui tweeted.
The next Tiananmen Square? Chinese citizens are demanding increased free speech after the death of a coronavirus whistleblower doctor. China is censoring their calls.
Business Insider•February 7, 2020
Weibo doctor li wenliang coronavirus
Associated Press
The death of Li Wenliang, a doctor who was censored for trying to alert citizens about the dangers of the Wuhan coronavirus, has outraged Chinese citizens.
Chinese citizens expressed their anger and grief at his passing and the conflicting reports from state media outlets on social media.
Three viral hashtags — "The Wuhan government owes Li Wenliang an apology," "I want freedom of speech," and "We want freedom of speech" – were seen by millions before they were censored.
In the wake of his Li's death, Chinese authorities have been trying to control public opinion online by censoring social media posts critical of the Chinese government.
Following the death of a doctor Li Wenliang, a whistleblower who was censored for raising alarms about the Wuhan coronavirus in its early stages, Chinese citizens took to social media to express their grief — and demand for an apology and more free speech from the Chinese government.
The announcement of Li's death also came amid conflicting statements in which state media reported that he had died, then that he was still alive on life support, and then again that he had died. The inconsistent reporting related to his death ignited outrage among citizens, who expressed frustration about the credibility of information from state media outlets.
In the wake of his Li's death, Chinese citizens have accused authorities of trying to control public opinion online by censoring social media posts critical of the Chinese government and how they've handled the coronavirus.
"We are not allowed to mourn for Dr. Li Wenliang. We are not allowed to ask for liberty of speech. Our words has been deleted. And our mouths has been silenced," a Chinese user tweeted.
Associated Press
The death of Li Wenliang, a doctor who was censored for trying to alert citizens about the dangers of the Wuhan coronavirus, has outraged Chinese citizens.
Chinese citizens expressed their anger and grief at his passing and the conflicting reports from state media outlets on social media.
Three viral hashtags — "The Wuhan government owes Li Wenliang an apology," "I want freedom of speech," and "We want freedom of speech" – were seen by millions before they were censored.
In the wake of his Li's death, Chinese authorities have been trying to control public opinion online by censoring social media posts critical of the Chinese government.
Following the death of a doctor Li Wenliang, a whistleblower who was censored for raising alarms about the Wuhan coronavirus in its early stages, Chinese citizens took to social media to express their grief — and demand for an apology and more free speech from the Chinese government.
The announcement of Li's death also came amid conflicting statements in which state media reported that he had died, then that he was still alive on life support, and then again that he had died. The inconsistent reporting related to his death ignited outrage among citizens, who expressed frustration about the credibility of information from state media outlets.
In the wake of his Li's death, Chinese citizens have accused authorities of trying to control public opinion online by censoring social media posts critical of the Chinese government and how they've handled the coronavirus.
"We are not allowed to mourn for Dr. Li Wenliang. We are not allowed to ask for liberty of speech. Our words has been deleted. And our mouths has been silenced," a Chinese user tweeted.
The Chinese government has censored protests in the wake of Li's death
As rumors spread of Li's death throughout Thursday evening and Friday morning, three hashtags went viral online seeking justice for the whistleblower doctor: "The Wuhan government owes Li Wenliang an apology," "I want freedom of speech," and "We want freedom of speech." The hashtags were seen by millions of users on a Chinese social media platform called Weibo before they disappeared without a trace, the South China Morning Post reported.
According to Nectar Gan, a reporter for CNN International, the hashtag "I want freedom of speech" had 1.8 million views around 5 a.m. before the entire phrase was censored from Chinese social media platforms. BBC also reported that "hundreds of thousands" of comments related to Li's death have been completely wiped, complying with government demands to censor politically sensitive content.
—Nectar Gan (@Nectar_Gan) February 6, 2020
Chinese authorities have replaced messages of dissent about Li's passing with posts from Weibo accounts with a blue "V," which are verified accounts for official government figures, agencies, media outlets and more. The posts trending about Li's death now report that he died from a "work injury."
Weibo Li Wenliang
Weibo
According to Manya Koetse, the editor in chief of a Chinese social media watchdog blog called "What's on Weibo, "a post acknowledging the Chinese governments' dishonesty with the public began trending under a "Li Wenliang" hashtag also became popular among Weibo users.
—Manya Koetse (@manyapan) February 7, 2020
Other citizens accused the Chinese government of trying to manipulate public opinion about Li's death and the coronavirus through censorship.
—韩连潮 (@lianchaohan) February 6, 2020
On WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging platform, the hashtag "Can You Manage, Do You Understand?" referencing the letter Li was forced to sign by Chinese authorities for "making false statements" also began to surface on the platform. The phrase has become a rallying cry for those wanting more free speech, according to Koetse.
—Frankie Huang 🐯 (@ourobororoboruo) February 6, 2020
In the country where political dissent is often stifled and punished, the clamorous calls from citizens demanding accountability and change from the Chinese government amounts to an online revolt. One Chinese citizen compared the online dissent to the demonstrations made by Chinese students in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Gan reported.
"The last time so many people had been awakened was 1989. I want freedom of speech," a user wrote in a now-deleted post under the censored "I want freedom of speech" hashtag.
Despite attempts by authorities to quiet the political dissent, other Chinese citizens are encouraging each other to continue speaking up online.
—Alan Wong (@alanwongw) February 7, 2020
The Chinese government has been accused of covering up the virus
The Chinese government has been criticized for their reticence about the coronavirus in the early days of the outbreak. Chinese officials have been cracking down on citizens speaking out about the pandemic, arresting citizens accused of spreading rumors online and detaining journalists covering the virus.
Li was one of few to raise alarms about the virus before the Chinese government had officially announced the outbreak. On December 30, Dr. Li Wenliang warned some of his medical-school colleagues about the virus before the Chinese government had officially announced the outbreak on WeChat. Soon, screenshots of his message about the potential risks of the illness went viral. He was later reprimanded and silenced by the police in Wuhan, made to sign a letter for "disturbing public order."
Lil is now being hailed a hero in China for raising the alarm about the coronavirus and continuing to share information about the virus as he worked to treat patients at Wuhan Central Hospital. He contracted the coronavirus while treating patients and died from the virus at about 4 a.m. local time on Friday, state media outlets reported. He leaves behind his son, his pregnant wife, and his mother, who claimed she didn't even get to say goodbye.
Chinese citizens are honoring Li's death by blowing whistles and shining flashlights out windows across Wuhan, Hubei, the center of the coronavirus outbreak. However, even attempts to coordinate the commemoration to Li have been censored by authorities, according to Gan.
According to Manya Koetse, the editor in chief of a Chinese social media watchdog blog called "What's on Weibo, "a post acknowledging the Chinese governments' dishonesty with the public began trending under a "Li Wenliang" hashtag also became popular among Weibo users.
—Manya Koetse (@manyapan) February 7, 2020
Other citizens accused the Chinese government of trying to manipulate public opinion about Li's death and the coronavirus through censorship.
—韩连潮 (@lianchaohan) February 6, 2020
On WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging platform, the hashtag "Can You Manage, Do You Understand?" referencing the letter Li was forced to sign by Chinese authorities for "making false statements" also began to surface on the platform. The phrase has become a rallying cry for those wanting more free speech, according to Koetse.
—Frankie Huang 🐯 (@ourobororoboruo) February 6, 2020
In the country where political dissent is often stifled and punished, the clamorous calls from citizens demanding accountability and change from the Chinese government amounts to an online revolt. One Chinese citizen compared the online dissent to the demonstrations made by Chinese students in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Gan reported.
"The last time so many people had been awakened was 1989. I want freedom of speech," a user wrote in a now-deleted post under the censored "I want freedom of speech" hashtag.
Despite attempts by authorities to quiet the political dissent, other Chinese citizens are encouraging each other to continue speaking up online.
—Alan Wong (@alanwongw) February 7, 2020
The Chinese government has been accused of covering up the virus
The Chinese government has been criticized for their reticence about the coronavirus in the early days of the outbreak. Chinese officials have been cracking down on citizens speaking out about the pandemic, arresting citizens accused of spreading rumors online and detaining journalists covering the virus.
Li was one of few to raise alarms about the virus before the Chinese government had officially announced the outbreak. On December 30, Dr. Li Wenliang warned some of his medical-school colleagues about the virus before the Chinese government had officially announced the outbreak on WeChat. Soon, screenshots of his message about the potential risks of the illness went viral. He was later reprimanded and silenced by the police in Wuhan, made to sign a letter for "disturbing public order."
Lil is now being hailed a hero in China for raising the alarm about the coronavirus and continuing to share information about the virus as he worked to treat patients at Wuhan Central Hospital. He contracted the coronavirus while treating patients and died from the virus at about 4 a.m. local time on Friday, state media outlets reported. He leaves behind his son, his pregnant wife, and his mother, who claimed she didn't even get to say goodbye.
Chinese citizens are honoring Li's death by blowing whistles and shining flashlights out windows across Wuhan, Hubei, the center of the coronavirus outbreak. However, even attempts to coordinate the commemoration to Li have been censored by authorities, according to Gan.
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