Online “Film Festival” in Support of Rally by AIDS Carriers Petitioning Henan Authorities
Comments Off on Online “Film Festival” in Support of Rally by AIDS Carriers Petitioning Henan AuthoritiesOn April 16, more than 300 AIDS sufferers from around Henan went to the Civil Affairs Office of Henan Province to call on the agency to enforce its own opinion, announced in 2009, that would make strides in guaranteeing benefits to children affected by the disease. The petitioners also pushed for officials to provide compensation to those who contracted AIDS in the 1990s from contaminated blood supplies. The next day, AIDS sufferers rallied in front of the provincial government building, which prompted authorities to send out a large number of police officers who were joined by interceptors from all over the province to deal with the protestors.
Subsequently, officials then reportedly said that improvements to benefit provision that were announced three years ago would go into effect within two months, and that a response about compensation issues would also be given during that period of time. To support these protestors, netizens have started an online “film festival” featuring a number of documentaries for free downloads, including well-known filmmaker Ai Xiaoming’s “Chronicle of the Central Plains” and “The Home of Loving Care.” (CHRD)[i]