China locks critics away in mental hospitals

[AsahinaKimi]

Holding litigation documents, Zhou Mingde, 53, says his diagnosis of a mental disorder was illegal at his home in Shanghai. (Koichi Furuya)

BY KOICHI FURUYA CORRESPONDENT

BEIJING--Zhou Mingde lost consciousness after he was struck from behind while walking on a street in Shanghai. It was a hot day in April in 2008.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself in an ambulance with both arms tied.

Zhou, a 53-year-old factory worker, was delivered to a mental institution, where he was ordered to change into the blue-striped clothes worn by patients and forced to take a pill.

At first confused, he finally realized he had been involuntarily committed and he wasn't getting out any time soon.


The apartment building, where Xu Wu, who escaped from a mental institution after being diagnosed with a mental disorder, lives in Wuhan in Hubei province. His parents, who live with him, went "missing" temporarily. (Koichi Furuya)

more..
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201107190350.html

[sakabatou]

1. This is what repressive governments do.

[Drale]

2. This is what right wing governments do. /nt