Doctor's death sparks online fury in China

Doctor's death sparks online fury in China

The death of a Wuhan doctor who was silenced by police after trying weeks ago to raise the alarm about the new coronavirus has led to an outpouring of grief and anger on mainland social media, ramping up pressure on the authorities who were already under fire over the growing crisis.



Li Wenliang died in hospital on Thursday night after contracting the virus from a patient. He was 34.



"He is a hero who warned others with his life," a fellow Wuhan doctor wrote on Weibo after reports of his death emerged.



"Those fat officials who live on public money, may you die from a snowstorm," wrote one angry Weibo user.



Other comments included "You think everyone's sleeping? We are not" and "There are no lies in heaven. Rest in peace".



Some posts also called for people to be given basic civil rights and freedom of expression.



Mainland censors appeared to struggle with how to deal with news of Li's death. The Global Times and CCTV both announced the death on Weibo on Thursday evening, only to delete their posts after the news rapidly surged to be among the top topics on the platform.



Li had sent out a message about the new coronavirus to colleagues on December 30, but was later among eight whistleblowers summoned by police and accused of "rumour-mongering."



Analysts have said that mainland authorities had originally played down the extent of the outbreak, which has killed hundreds, because they were holding political meetings at the time and wanted to project an aura of stability.



But the head of the Foreign Ministry's office in Hong Kong, Xie Feng, denied on Friday that there had been any cover up.



He told foreign envoys and media in the SAR that people on the mainland enjoy freedom of speech and access to information. (Additional reporting by AFP)