Japan wants lepers to attend Beijing Olympics

Japan is planning to request that China drop a policy that unfairly discriminates against people suffering from leprosy:

The organizing committee of the Beijing Olympic Games revealed a guideline June 2 declaring anyone who suffers from leprosy, mental illness, sexually transmitted disease, open pulmonary tuberculosis and those who may commit terrorist acts cannot come to China during the event from Aug. 8 to Aug. 24.

Earlier this month, a Japanese group created by academics and citizens to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against leprosy sufferers asked the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo to abolish the ban on leprosy sufferers.

The U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva unanimously approved a resolution in June calling for the elimination of discrimination against leprosy sufferers.

For almost 90 years from 1907 to 1996, Japan segregated people with leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, on the erroneous notion that the disease was highly infectious.

Wayne Li

This is just getting out of hand… Since when have the Olympic games changed? I support China’s decision to ban those people from attending the games. It’s always better to be safe than to be sorry. I’m sure China will be under more scrutiny if people were infected with one of the diseased listed above after attending the Olympic Games.
Level3

Trusting commies to define “mental illness”?
Isn’t anyone who openly thinks communism sucks “mentally ill” and subject to “re-education” or even “psychiatric treatment” culminating in a bullet to the brain for the “uncurable”?

“may” commit terrorist acts?
How will they figure that out? Anyone who might beat China in an event?
Al Jazeera is pro-terrorist, but also spreads anti-American propaganda, so expect they’ll get a pass, right?
joyce

The mental illness is a valid concern. People with mental illnesses may cause lots of problems. And is tuberculosis not infectious? I remember learning in biology that it is. STDs could be a problem if the chinese govt. believes that visitors will go look for prostitutes..

Level3

Even though the headline is about leprosy, the issue is clearly much larger.

I’m pretty sure your typical mentally ill person isn’t trying to get Olympics tickets, but I AM pretty sure that the term “mentally ill” is too vague, especially in when Commies are deciding who is “mentally ill” or not.
Since that isn’t enough, they also throw in the “likely to be terrorist” clause.

But the World Special Olympics 2007 were held in Shanghai last year. Was there a similar rule about “mental illness” then? Why now? I think we know why. Anyone they don’t want to come can be termed “mentally ill” or “likely terrorist” and kept out.

No argument that people with TB should be kept out, but hopefully that includes CHINESE people. Since China has at least double the infection rate of First World countries, probably much worse.

Anyway, it’s obvious that when they made this rule, they put the “troublemakers” in with the diseased so pro-China agents can focus ONLY on the disease, and just pretend the other things about “mentally ill” and “likely terrorist” aren’t even an issue. This is exactly what they want.
Oh, and some pro-China agents seem to want to pretend foreigners will be spreading STDs with prostitutes…as if the CHINESE prostitutes don7t already have STDs? oh yeah, I forgot, there are no STDs in China!

Vonskippy

Who knew that lepers were big amateur sports fans that love to travel to China (and now – cue tear rolling slowing down my cheek – they can’t).

Besides, how exactly will China know? Last time I looked, my passport doesn’t declare me “free of Hansen’s disease”.
Jim

Hansen’s disease: not to be confused with the auditorally transmitted Hanson’s disease (symptoms include eratic outbursts of “MMMBop”, followed by convulsions and eventually, death).
helical

Way to go for a sensationalist article title

I would be a little sympathetic with the Chinese position if they regularly held this as a policy and were suddenly being bashed in time with the Olympics. Restrictions on travel for people with infectious diseases isn’t unheard of and is justified in a lot of cases.

But lumping it with the catch-all category of “mental illness” as well as “terrorists”? If that isn’t first-rate flamebait, I wouldn’t know what is.
Pingback: Japan wants lepers to attend Beijing Olympics

Japan wants lepers to attend Beijing Olympics

Recent Comments

Further Reading

South Korean TV Erases Japanese Flag From H-IIA Rocket

Short Film: “Regular Days” in Saga Prefecture

More Vandalism: Hair Removed From Sazae-san Character Statue

Videos: Solar Eclipse Over Japan

Japanese H-IIA Rocket Carries South Korean Satellite into Space

Takeshi Kitano Compares Homosexuality to Bestiality?

Detective Conan Statues Vandalized

BBC Global Poll: Japan Has Most Positive Influence in the World

Photo: Tommy Lee Jones as General Douglas MacArthur

Tokyo Disney Resort Allows Gay Weddings

Categories

Subscribe

Japan Blogs

Korea Blogs

Linkroll

Other Asia Blogs