June 12, 2012. Amnesty International has issued an open letter calling for a prompt, thorough, and independent investigation into the death of veteran dissident Li Wangyang and for protection of his relatives and friends from arbitrary detention or unlawful restrictions.
The letter, addressed to the chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, emphasizes that Li’s death on June 6 remains contested and that family members and supporters must be free to seek answers and speak publicly.
Amnesty’s intervention broadens the issue from the cause of Li’s death alone to the treatment of those attempting to investigate it. A credible process requires both independent forensic scrutiny and freedom from coercion for relatives, lawyers, and witnesses.