AFP: Amnesty Says Torture, Ill-Treatment Increased in China Last Year [excerpt]

LONDON, May 28 (AFP) - Amnesty International Tuesday condemned China for continued violations of basic rights on a massive scale, saying torture and ill-treatment had increased in some areas over the past year. Groups such as the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement and people branded "Islamic separatists" were particularly targeted during 2001, the London-based rights group said in its annual report.

"Torture and ill-treatment remained widespread and appeared to increase against certain groups," the report said. Amnesty noted a rise in reports of torture and deaths of detained [practitioners] of Falun Gong, which has been outlawed since 1999.

"Around 200 Falun Gong practitioners allegedly died in custody as a result of torture," it said. Even in Hong Kong, nominally not exposed to Beijing's political control, Falun Gong [practitioners] were arrested at peaceful demonstrations and alleged that they were victims of police violence, the report said.

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"The authorities continued to show willingness to adhere on a pro-forma level to the international human rights regimen, but pursued domestic policies which resulted in serious human rights violations on a large scale," the group charged.

The report said thousands were detained or imprisoned across the country for "peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association or belief."

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The report cited widespread use of torture such as "kicking, beating, electric shocks, hanging by the arms, shackling in painful positions, and sleep and food deprivation."

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"Some protests were met with excessive use of force by police, and some protesters were detained," it said. China on Tuesday rejected Amnesty's accusations before it had even seen the report, saying the group "often releases some irresponsible reports".

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