Mr. Hu Jia, the Executive Director of the Beijing Aizhixing Institute placed under house arrest 26th May 2004

7 July 2004

Hu Jia is no longer under house arrest.

26 May 2004

Front Line is alarmed about information received in relation to Hu Jia, the Executive Director of the Beijing Aizhixing Institute was placed under house arrest 26th May 2004. This has been effectuated in order to prevent him from meeting the US Ambassador who will be going on tour of villages that have a high HIV-AIDs infection rate.

The Beijing AIZHIXING Institute of Health Education is a non-governmental organisation, which aims at increasing China’s awareness about HIV/AIDS and advocates on the rights and interests of those infected with HIV/AIDS in China.

Mr. Hu Jia had hoped that he would meet a U.S delegation in the village of Shangcai, in the Henan province Friday the 28th May 2004. Reportedly parts of Henan have 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.