Police seek breakthrough as HIV immunizes carriers from penalties(2)

Two years ago, a drug trafficker was caught by police in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, but was released at the scene because he had festered hands. Police suspected he had AIDS.

With nearly 500,000 HIV/AIDS cases across the country at the end of October 2012, increasing reports of crimes by carriers have led to rising concerns among the public.

No law protects violators and crimes, but these groups of offenders are also patients, and their double identities are where the dilemma lies, says Lu Lin, director of the Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

A convicted HIV carrier is usually allowed, in accordance with related laws, to serve his term outside prison, as most jails do not have separate facilities for them. Mixed confinement means a threat to non-infected prisoners, says Lu, who was once a prison guard.

As treatment means an extra burden, few prisons accept HIV/AIDS carriers without extra governmental investment, says Lu.

Pei Yan, an associate professor with the People's Public Security University of China based in Beijing, says convicted HIV/AIDS carriers should not be granted terms outside prison if they pose potential threats to both public security and health.

Lan Yonggang, deputy police chief in Mengla, another county under Xishuangbanna, suggests that the ethnic autonomous prefecture, which enjoys independent legislative power, can resolve the dilemma through legislation. However, he admits it might be a long and complicated process.

He says the Menghai care center for drug rehabilitation is a model that can solve the problem.

The center was a brainchild of the local police. But to avoid a clash with current legal procedures, it was initiated by the civil affairs bureau with help from AIDS prevention groups and other authorities. It is seen as a way to deal with groups of people who many believe enjoy an amnesty.

Police chief Tan said the program is neither a detention house, nor a clinical service. It is a care center, which integrates efforts from police, public health and civil affairs authorities.

The center was set up with government investment of 1.5 million yuan. It has 19 workers, including doctors and nurses, while police monitor its security. Thirty-four people are receiving treatment at the center. Tan says it can accommodate 80 at most.

Xu Heping, director of the Yunnan Provincial AIDS Prevention Bureau, says Menghai is a model for dealing with this special challenge. It is worth duplicating, but currently needs both funding and policy support from the government.

Liao Zhong seems satisfied at the center. His imagination still flies far and high. "I hope I can go to Tibet or Xinjiang after I totally recover. They are good places."