Front Line is alarmed over reports that Chinese Human Rights Defender Hu Jia may be placed under forced psychiatric care.

Forced psychiatric treatment has been used in the past by the Chinese authorities as a means of persecuting human rights defenders.

Hu Jia was confined to house arrest before a visit to Henan Province by the U.S ambassador to Beijing, Clark Randt, on 26 May 2004, when Randt was delivering medicine and other emergency supplies to the province of Henan. Henan has one of the highest AIDS/HIV infection rates in the world. Mr. Hu Jia is a Chinese HIV/AIDS activist. Lobbying by non-governmental organizations particularly on controversial subjects like HIV/AIDS in China are rare.

On the 4th of June, Hu Jia and his mother's home was sealed off by a large number of police. Since then it is reported that Hu Jia has been beaten by police on two occasions, and he was detained in police custody for three days. His house has been under surveillance following his release.

Front Line is alarmed that forced psychiatric treatment could be used as a form of oppression on the part of the Chinese authorities, and could cause Hu Jia irreparable damage.