the Chinese doctor who warned of the
novel coronavirus before the outbreak
hit the international headlines died
last Thursday after contracting the
virus himself his death has prompted a
academics in Wuhan to call for the
Chinese government to allow freedom of
speech in China they're also demanding
apologies and compensation for the other
whistle blows Eason J has this report
Lee Wong yang a local doctor who warned
his medical school alumni group about
the discovery of a source like illness
via a messaging app was reprimanded by
Wuhan police and later forced to sign a
letter stating he had made false
comments on the Internet
however the doctors warning proved to be
true as the novel coronavirus has now
killed hundreds and infected tens of
thousands of others around the globe
while treating patients in the city the
34 year old doctor contracted the corona
virus himself and died last Thursday his
death has sparked a debate on freedom of
speech in China 10 Wuhan Bay's
professor's have signed a letter
demanding the Chinese government
enforced freedom of speech articles in
the Constitution of the People's
Republic of China the professor's also
call for a sincere apology and for the
government to compensate the eight known
coronavirus whistleblowers the letter
cites article 35 and 51 in the Chinese
Constitution which states that Chinese
citizens should enjoy freedom of speech
of the press of assembly of Association
of profession and of demonstration the
latter says Chinese citizens rights may
not infringe upon the interests of the
state of society and of the collective
or upon the lawful freedoms and rights
of other citizens the open letter also
calls for the Chinese government to
recognize the doctor as a national
martyr another letter signed by nine
academics from around China calls for a
February 6th the day he died to be made
national freedom of speech day in his
honor
meanwhile a Chinese lawyer and citizen
journalist known for his video reports
from Wuhan
has gone missing according to his family
34 year old Chang Cree she was detained
in the name of quarantine by the police
but they don't know his whereabouts Chen
was gaining traction on Chinese social
media platforms for his reports on the
pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong and
Chinese citizens are discouraged from
discussing him online
Eason J Arirang news
