Melamine activist 'thanks' government for support
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A statement posted on the personal blog of convicted milk activist Zhao Lianhai says he is undergoing treatment at a hospital and wants to enjoy life as an ordinary citizen.
Zhao, 38, whose three-year-old child was sickened by melamine-tainted milk powder, was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment on November 10 for inciting social disorder. He decided not to appeal, and instead applied for medical parole.
Some Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress said they were told Saturday that he had been granted medical parole, but there has been no official confirmation.
A statement bearing Zhao's name posted on his personal blog Tuesday said he did not want people to discuss his case any more.
"I hope the incident will go away. It will be beneficial to the country, society and my family," the statement said. "I agree with the criminal punishment imposed on me by judicial organizations. I hope other people can stop discussing the matter."
"I support and am grateful to the government. And I apologize for the radical comments made against the government in the past."
The mobile phone of Zhao's wife, Li Xuemei, was switched off. Reporters and Zhao's former lawyers lost contact with Zhao's family soon after the verdict was delivered.
One of the lawyers, Li Fangping, said he was not sure about the authenticity of the statement, and suspected that Zhao was put under pressure to downplay the incident.
"The development is odd," he told the Global Times.
"Zhao and his family have not had contact with the outside world for more than a month. Suddenly there is this statement on the Internet," he added.
Lew Mon-hong, a Hong Kong deputy to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said Zhao should be allowed to meet reporters to prove that he really has been granted medical parole.
