(Clearwisdom.net) A summary of various news reports on the fact-finding trip to China by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Manfred Nowak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, expressed at a press briefing on December 2, 2005 in Beijing that torture is widespread in China. Victims of torture include Falun Gong practitioners, Christians and others. The prevalence of torture under the rule of the Chinese Communist Regime has raised extensive attention from the mainstream media worldwide, including AP, Reuters, The New York Times, BBC, VOA and other media outlets. These media outlets have published extensive reports on the issue.

The New York Times cited Manfred Nowak in its report on December 2, 2005, revealing that Falun Gong practitioners were often sent to forced labor camps without trials, and forced to stay in painful positions for long periods of time. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities subjected detainees to electric shocks, beatings and sleep deprivation.

The BBC stated in its report that after ten years' lobbying by the U.N., the CCP has for the first time allowed the United Nations' special rapporteur on torture to come to China to look into claims of torture and mistreatment by Chinese authorities, which itself shows that the Chinese government (CCP) has admitted the existence of the problem.

Nowak met with a prisoner had been forced to lie still on a bed in a cold room for 85 days. Nowak also said that Chinese security agents attempted at various times throughout the visit to obstruct or restrict him from finding out the facts. The security officers also closely monitored victims' family members he interviewed.

UN Special Rapporteur on Torture under CCP's surveillance and his work obstructed

According to the Central News Agency, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, expressed that he was monitored and obstructed during his trip to China. Unlike his visit to other countries, Nowak could not go directly to detention facilities to visit on his own. Rather, he could only visit the detention facilities in the company of officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and under the condition that he informed them one hour ahead. He was also not allowed to take his camera or other electronic equipment.

Nowak said that some departments of the Chinese government (CCP), especially the Public Security Department and the National Security Departments had attempted at various times to prevent or obstruct him from investigating some situations. In the hotel where he stayed and its surrounding areas, security agents kept frequent surveillance on him. A number of family members and victims he tried to visit were intimidated by security personnel, placed under police surveillance, and were told not to meet him. Some were physically prevented from meeting with him.

Nowak also said, "Under these conditions and taking into account the size and complexity of China as well as the limited duration of the mission, the Special Rapporteur acknowledges the limitations in drawing up a comprehensive set of findings and conclusions on the situation of torture and ill-treatment in China."

Even so, after the 13-day visit, Nowak still found out that the torture remains widespread in China.