One week has passed since the tragic death of labour activist Li Wangyang. And with every day that passes, it seems less and less plausible that he committed suicide, as the local authorities have claimed.
Of course, even if his feet were on the ground as he hung from the hospital window; even if there was no suicide note; and even if he could survive more than twenty years of torture and hardship in prison, we still cannot say with absolute certainty that Li did not commit suicide.
But that should not stop us from asking, why did the local authorities cremate his body in such a hurry? If Li Wangyang was not murdered why were his friends prevented from paying their last respects? If Li Wangyang was not murdered why were those calling for an investigation into his alleged suicide placed under house arrest or disappeared? If Li Wangyang was not murdered why did the family’s legal aid lawyer disappear? If Li Wangyang was not murdered why did the Shaoyang authorities threaten and intimidate his family members at the hospital? If Li Wangyang was not murdered why were his grieving relatives placed under house arrest and prevented from talking to the outside world?
Looking at the actions of the local and provincial authorities after the event, the suggestion that Li committed suicide becomes less and less believable.
We call on the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to establish a special committee to uncover the truth surrounding Li Wangyang’s death, how he was rendered both deaf and blind, and the extent of the torture he endured over two decades in prison.
Only in this way can the dead rest in peace and the living understand.
China Labour Bulletin Director
Han Dongfang
明天是湖南邵阳工运铁汉李旺阳的头七。李旺阳之死的疑点越来越重！邵阳警方的自杀之说越来越不可信！ 退一步说，就算是死亡时脚在地上不能说明一定就是他杀；退一千步说，就算没留下遗嘱，自杀也不是完全没有可能；退一万步说，就算是能熬过二十多年牢狱的煎熬和酷刑，出狱后也可能在医院的病房里自杀。
但是，我们却要一步不能退的问：如果李旺阳不是被谋杀，为什么要匆匆火化遗体？如果李旺阳不是被谋杀，为什么不让友人瞻仰遗容？如果李旺阳不是被谋杀，"李旺阳自杀案真相民间调查委员会"发起人为什么被软禁、被失踪？如果李旺阳不是被谋杀，向李旺阳家人提供法律协助的律师为什么被失踪？如果李旺阳不是被谋杀，邵阳国保在事发现场为什么要对家属像明朝"东厂"一样逐个点名威胁恐吓？如果李旺阳不是被谋杀，为什么要软禁亲人，切断他们与外界的联系？
就事发后湖南省邵阳市政府以及当地国保大队的一系列动作来看，李旺阳自杀越来越不可信！
我们呼吁全国人大常委会立即就此案成立特别调查委员会，直接对李旺阳之死真相、他双目失明和双耳失聪的原因、他所长期遭受的酷刑展开调查，让死者瞑目，让生者明白！
中国劳工通讯 韩东方
2012年6月12日