Calls for British police to travel to China to investigate Neil Heywood death

MPs say they are puzzled by the Foreign Office’s intervention in a sensitive
political power struggle in China when it appeared that Mr Heywood’s
relatives accepted the coroners verdict that a heart attack had struck down
the Old Harrovian businessman, in a hotel room in the city of Chongqing. Sir
Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, said he feared that “some
kind of game” was being played out between Britain and China over
Heywood and the demise of Mr Bo’s political career.

“It could be a case that Heywood had found out something about corruption”
said Sir Menzies said adding that Britain could be sending a message to
China “that we don’t want our people bumped off.”

“There is a great deal of speculation about this matter that will not be
readily cleared up unless the Foreign Office fully explains what has been
happening, especially if the family is saying they don’t want the matter to
be pursued. Experience tells us that the facts and circumstances will come
out eventually, so the Foreign Secretary must provide clarity to the House
as soon as possible.”

Diplomatic sources said that British officials were no longer pursuing the
allegations with Chinese officials in bilateral meetings. Although the
claims had been raised on “multiple occasions” Chinese officials
had not been pressed to investigate Mr Heywood’s death in recent days.

Meanwhile, the suggestion that Bo Xilai could have fallen out with his chief
of police over the death of Mr Heywood is “preposterous” according
to one of his friends. The source, who was unnamed, told the BBC that Mr Bo
and Wang Lijun had a “normal” relationship just days before the
policeman fled to the United States consulate in Chengdu, apparently for
protection.

Rumours suggested that Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, is under investigation for
corruption. Another said Mr Bo had quarrelled with Mr Wang to protect her.
Finally there came the suggestion that his family was in some way linked to
Mr Heywood’s death. The rumours appear to be part of a smear campaign to
discredit Mr Bo, who remains hugely popular in the cities he has governed,
before a final verdict in his case is delivered.

Mr MacShane warned that Western businessmen faced unknown risks in travelling
to China and that Mr Heywood’s death appeared to be a troubling echo of the
kind of mysterious deaths that had taken place in Russia.

“It should worry all of us,” he added. “It is unusual for a
respected British or indeed western middleman, whatever he was doing, to die
in these circumstances.”

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