30 March 2005
Introduction
1. This addendum to the report of the Special Rapporteur contains, on a country-by-country basis, summaries of reliable and credible allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that were brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur, and were transmitted to the Governments concerned. It also contains replies from Governments. This addendum does not illustrate the state of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment throughout the world, but rather reflects the state of information brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur.
2. The Special Rapporteur would like to recall that in transmitting these allegations to Governments, he does not make any judgement concerning the merits of the cases, nor does he support the opinion and activities of the persons on behalf of whom he intervenes. The prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right, and every human being is legally and morally entitled to protection. When the Special Rapporteur receives reliable and credible information that gives grounds to fear that a person may be at risk of torture or other forms of ill-treatment, he may transmit an urgent appeal to the Government concerned. The communications sent by the Special Rapporteur have a humanitarian and preventive purpose, and do not require the exhaustion of domestic remedies. Governments are requested to clarify the substance of the allegations, take steps to protect the person's rights, and are urged to investigate the allegations and prosecute and impose appropriate sanctions on any persons guilty of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
3. Observations by the Special Rapporteur have also been included where applicable. Such observations, which sometimes note the most recent findings of other supervisory bodies, in particular United Nations treaty bodies, are usually made when the information suggests that there may be a problem extending beyond the exceptional or isolated incident. References to press statements of the Special Rapporteur are also cited.
4. During the period under review, i.e. from 16 December 2003 to 30 November 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent 223 letters* to 77 Governments. The Special Rapporteur also sent 330 urgent appeals* to 72 Governments on behalf of individuals for whom fears had been expressed that they might be at risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Government responses received up to 31 December 2004 have been included. The responses received after that date will be duly reflected in the addendum to the report of the sixty-second session of the Commission.
5. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the timely responses received from Governments to the letters and urgent appeals transmitted. He regrets that many Governments fail to respond, or do so selectively, and that responses to older cases remain outstanding in large part.
6. Owing to restrictions on the length of documents, the Special Rapporteur has been obliged to reduce considerably details of communications sent and received; attention is given to information specifically relating to the allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. As a result, requests from Governments to publish their replies in their totality could not be acceded to.
SUMMARY OF CASES TRANSMITTED
China
226. By letter dated 10 June 2004, sent jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, the Special Rapporteur notified the Government that he had received allegations concerning Z. Y., age 4. On 1 January 2004, she was taken from her home in Zitong Town, Tongnan County, Chongqing City, by four police officers from the Tongnan County National Security Team (one of whom is known to the Special Rapporteurs). Both of her parents had been arrested previously because they are practitioners of Falun Gong. In February 2002, her father, Zhang Hongxu was sent to Xishanping Labor Camp, where he was tortured, and suffered a broken nose, missing teeth, and injured ribs. He is now detained at an undisclosed location. On 23 December 2003, Z. her mother, Wu Yongmei, was detained and tortured. She was released after being on a hunger strike for 54 days. Upon release, she began to search for her daughter and her current whereabouts are unknown.
227. By letter dated 8 July 2004, sent jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur notified the Government that he had received allegations concerning:
228. Sun Yanqing, an employee of the Mechanical Maintenance Facility, Xuanhua District Steel Works, Zhanjiakou City, Hebei Province. In 2000, she was arrested in Beijing when she went to appeal for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. Her condition became critical after she was tortured. She was sent back to her home town where she was hospitalized and died a few days later.
229. Chen Aizhong, age 33, Beixinbao Town, Huailai County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. On 20 July 1999, Mr. Chen, together with his family, went to Beijing to appeal for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. On 12 September 2000, he was arrested and sent to the Sixth Brigade of Hehuakeng Labor Camp, Tangshan City, where he was tortured. He died on 20 September 2000.
230. Zhu Yourong, a Falun Gong practitioner, Xuanhua District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. She was tortured at the Women's Second Brigade, First Forced Labor Camp, Hebei Province. She died at the camp on 16 December 2000.
231. Fan Yaxiong, age 42, Chairwoman for Teaching and Guidance, High School No. 15, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. In May 2000, she was arrested in Beijing while demonstrating against the persecution of Falun Gong. Officials of the Zhangjiakou 610 Office (the agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong practitioners) sent her to the Shalingzi Mental Hospital where she was injected with nerve-damaging drugs. In June 2000, she was sentenced to three years of forced labor education and was tortured at the Tangshan Forced Labor Camp. She was released at the end of 2000 and died at home shortly afterwards.
232. Zhang Zhigen, age 53, a Falun Gong practitioner, and working in the Zhangjiakou Embroidery Factory, Zhanjiakou City. In April 2000, she was arrested when she went to Beijing to appeal for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. She was detained by the "610 Office" deputies at the Xuanhua District Detention Centre, Zhanjiakou City, for 17 days where she was tortured. One of her legs became infected and had to be amputated. On 6 October 2000, she went to Beijing and was re-arrested. She was transferred to the Shisanli Zhangjiakou City Detention Centre and tortured for nine days. She was released and died on 25 February 2001.
233. Jiang Shuhua, age 50, a Falun Gong practitioner, Shihuiyao village, Yangtian Township, Chicheng County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. On 8 February 2002, she was arrested by the police, and died on 3 March 2002 in police custody.
234. Shen Lizhi, age 33, Shenyang City, and his wife Luo Fang, Leshan City, Sichuan Province. On 1 February 2002, they were arrested on Bus No. 75 by police officers from Yingmenkou Police Station, Chengdu City. The police claimed that at the time of their arrest the two persons had in their possession materials relating to the persecution of Falun Gong. They were detained at the Chengdu Detention Centre. Shen Lizhi was tortured after his arrest and died on the afternoon of 3 March 2002 at Qingyang District People's Hospital. The police notified his parents one year later, on 3 March 2003. Luo Fang was eight months pregnant at the time of her arrest, and an official of the "610 Office" forced her to have an abortion. On 8 May 2002, she was released but was arrested again on 5 December. She was tortured and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Since August 2003, she has been held at the Chuanxi Prison, Hongan Town, Longquan, Chengdu City.
235. Liu Haibo, a 34 year-old Falun Gong practitioner, and a doctor at the Luyuan District Hospital, Changchun City, Jilin Province. On 11 March 2002, police from the Kuancheng District Police Station in Changchun City abducted him from his home and tortured him to death. He died at the 120 Emergency Centre, on 12 March 2002.
236. Liu Yuqing, age 40, Wanghua district, Fushun City, Liaoning Province. She went to Beijing to appeal to the Government to stop the persecution of Falun Gong, and on 21 December 2000, she was arrested, detained and tortured. After she was released, on 15 February 2001, three police officers from the Putun Police Station, Wanghua district, dragged her down from the third floor of her work unit and took her to the police station. She was then sent to the Fushun City Detention Centre, and 2 weeks later she was transferred to the Wujiabao Labor Camp, Fushun City, where she was tortured again. She was taken home by her family on 11 April 2001 where she died on 13 April 2002.
237. Song Cuiling, age 52, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. On 5 May 2002, she was arrested at Tiananmen Square while she was appealing for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. She was sent to the Zhangjiakou Detention Centre where she was subjected to torture. She went on a hunger strike to protest the persecution and was tortured to death on 20 May 2002.
238. Yin Ling, age 34, No. 597 Farm, Baoqing County, Heilongjiang Province. On 28 December 2001, the Chief of the No. 597 Farm Police Station and several other policemen took her away. She was sentenced to three years of forced labor in the Jiamusi City Labor Camp. She began a hunger strike on 28 October 2002 to protest the detention. She was force-fed for a long time, tortured and handcuffed to her bed all day. Her family was instructed to take her home on 13 November 2002 and she died soon afterwards.
239. Xue Xia, age 33, Jiejiatun village, Xingtai City, Hebei Province. On 1 January 2000, she went to Beijing to appeal to the Government to stop the persecution against Falun Gong, was arrested and sentenced to three years of forced labor at Shijiazhuang Labor Camp. She was beaten in detention and force-fed unknown drugs. She was released in May 2001 on medical bail as she was on the verge of death. O n 27 September 2002 she was brought back to the labor camp, along with her mother, for questioning. On 4 January 2003 she was sent to Xingtai City for medical treatment and died on 21 February 2003.
240. Chen Hongping, a 32-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Huailai County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. In 2001, she was arrested and beaten, along with her sister by the Donghuayuan police. She was sent to the Gaoyang Labor Camp, subjected to further torture, as well as round-the-clock brainwashing against her belief in Falun Gong. She died on 5 March 2003 upon her release.
241. Yu Yongquan, age 45, employee of the Daqung City No. 2 Rice Mill, Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province. On 11 May 2002, he was arrested by police from the Ranghulu District Police Station and Chuangxin Police Station and sent to the Ranghulu District Detention Centre. He was charged with making Falun Gong materials, and was sentenced to 10 years in jail on 22 September 2002 by the Ranghulu District Court. He was detained in the Hongweixing Jail, Daqing City, where he was tortured. On 8 March 2003, he was sent to the prison hospital for emergency treatment and died the same day.
242. Chen Xiangrui, a 29-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Hengyang City, Hunan Province. On 11 March 2003, a group of policemen led by the head of the National Security Team, Hengyang City Police Station, entered his home, beat and kicked him, dragged him out of the house and into a police van. He was subjected to torture in the police station. He was sent to a hospital the next morning and died soon afterwards. The autopsy revealed that his internal organs had been damaged as a result of the beatings.
243. Gao Shuhua, age 49, Weicheng district, Weifang City, Shandong Province. On 14 March 2003, she was arrested while distributing materials about the persecution of Falun Gong. She was detained in the Weicheng Detention Centre for 13 days. During this time she went on a hunger strike to protest her imprisonment and was force-fed by guards. She died on 26 March 2003.
244. Li Jianhou, a 67-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province. She was tortured to death on 27 March 2003 in the Deyang Prison, Sichuan Province.
245. Li Ying, Wanghua district, Fushun City, Liaoning Province. On 31 March 2003, she was arrested by police from the Public Security Bureau, Wanghua district, and the local police station. She was taken to the No.1 Division of the Fushun City Public Security Bureau, where she was tortured. She died on 2 April 2003.
246. Zhao Chunying, a 56-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province. On 15 April 2003, she was arrested and sent to the Jixi City No. 2 Detention Centre. On 10 May 2003, her family was notified of her death. Two autopsies were carried out and signs of torture were found. Her family tried by different means to bring the perpetrators to justice in the past few months but without any results.
247. Yang Yufang, a 47-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Dongyaozi village, Qiaoxi district, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. On 17 May 2003, she was arrested and detained at the Shisanli Detention Centre, Zhangjiakou City, where she was tortured. She died on 16 June 2003.
248. Sui Guangxi and his wife, both Falun Gong practitioners, Xiangyangling village, Niuxibu Township, Laixi City, Shandong Province. On 17 September 2002, they were dragged into a police van and taken to the Sanjiaocun Elementary School where they were held for four days before they were transferred to the Xinzhuang "610 Office", Laixi City. They were forced to listen to daily broadcasts against Falun Gong. As Sui Guangxi refused to cooperate, the police subjected him to various forms of torture. He escaped 20 days later and died on 4 July 2003 in the Pingdu First People's Hospital.
249. Cao Ping, age 40, Caojiaba, Jiulong Town, Linshui County, Sichuan Province. In May 2001, he was arrested while distributing Falun Gong flyers and was detained at the Linshui County Detention Centre. He was beaten by officers from Linshui County Police Station and from Chengbei Police Station. He was sentenced to four years in Deyang Jail, Sichuan Province. He was beaten and tortured, as a result of which his internal organs were damaged. He was sent to a hospital and diagnosed as "untreatable". The authorities ordered his family to take him home on 27 May 2003 and he died on 17 July 2003.
250. Bai Xiaojun, age 35, a professor at the Northeast Normal University, Jilin Province. He was sent to a labor camp in Chaoyanggou because he had gone to Beijing to appeal for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. He was beaten to death while in custody and died on 18 July 2003.
251. Tan Chengqiang, Hongcheng village, Handian Town, Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province. On 18 May 2003, he was arrested by the "610 Office" in Shuangcheng City, and held in the Second Detention Centre, Shuangcheng City. He went on a hunger strike to protest his detention, was force-fed, and was subsequently transferred to a hospital. The "610 Office" ordered his family to take him home where he died on the evening of 19 July 2003.
252. Tian Junlong, age 45, Majiatun, Wuyi Township, Yitong County, Jilin Province. In the late 2002, he was arrested and sent to the Weizigou Labor Camp for having distributed materials on the persecution of Falun Gong. He was transferred three months later to the Chaoyanggou Labor Camp, Changchun City. Mr. Tian was tortured in both places, and sent home on 1 September 2003 because his condition deteriorated. He died on 21 September 2003.
253. Lu Bingshen, age 39, Caikulou area, Ranghulu District, Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province. In October 2000, he was arrested by the police while he was distributing material about the persecution of Falun. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and sent to the Daqing City Labor Camp. On the afternoon of 20 October 2003, he was tortured until he became unconscious. He was then sent to the Daqing City People's Hospital for emergency treatment where he died on 21 October 2003.
254. Yan Hai, a 37-year-old farmer and Falun Gong practitioner, Tumu village, Tumu Township, Huailai County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. On 30 October 2002, he was arrested at his home by policemen from Langshan Police Station for practicing Falun Gong. He was subjected to various types of psychological and physical torture at the Huailai County Detention Centre, including brainwashing in an attempt to force him to give up his practice of Falun Gong. On 14 November 2003, he was transferred to the Shisanli Detention Centre in poor condition. On 22 November 2003, he was sent to the 251 Hospital where he died on 24 November 2003. On 27 November, his family went to the hospital to view his body; more than 10 policemen were standing guard and did not leave the family alone with the body.
255. Zhang Changming, age 50, a Falun Gong practitioner, Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province. He was arrested and sent to the Jiamusi Labor Camp in Heilongjiang Province where he was beaten to the point of death. He was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment but doctors refused to treat him. Mr. Zhang was sent back to his home where he died as soon as he arrived.
256. By letter dated 15 October 2004, sent jointly with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the right to health and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, the Special Rapporteur expressed concern at reports of systemic repression against the Falun Gong. Over the past five years, hundreds of cases of alleged violations of the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners have been brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteurs. Many of these allegations have been reported back to the Chinese authorities and are reflected in reports of the Special Rapporteurs to the Commission on Human Rights. The Special Rapporteurs are concerned that reports of arrest, detention, ill-treatment, torture, denial of adequate medical treatment, sexual violence, deaths, and unfair trial of Falun Gong practitioners, are increasing. They are concerned that these allegations may reflect a deliberate and institutionalized policy of the authorities to target specific groups such as the Falun Gong. According to information received, on 10 June 1999 the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party established an office for dealing with the Falun Gong, commonly referred to as the "610 office" (for the date of its establishment), and officially later as the State Council Office for the Prevention and Handling of Cults. This institution reportedly was given a mandate to repress Falun Gong and other "heretical organizations", and is operating outside of the rule of law. Reports indicate that the Falun Gong was officially banned on 22 July 1999 through a decision of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and since then several decisions, notices, regulations and other judicial interpretations have been issued by the government and judicial authorities to legitimize the official repression against "heretical organizations", including the Falun Gong. In addition, according to reports a media campaign was launched against the Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners in June 1999. It is believed that this campaign followed a protest gathering in Beijing on 25 April 1999, involving more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners. Further reports indicate that in February 2001, the Central Committee of the Communist Party called for a Central Work Conference of high-level party officials. The purpose of this meeting was reportedly to adopt a plan calling for the formation of local "anti-cult task forces" in all universities, state enterprises and social organizations, to reinforce the "6-10 Office" and strengthen local control over the Falun Gong. An analysis of reports received by the Special Rapporteurs indicates that the alleged human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including systematic arrest and detention, are part of a pattern of repression against members of this group. Most of those arrested are reportedly heavily fined and released, but many are detained and ill-treated in order to force them to formally renounce Falun Gong. Those who refuse are sent to "re-education through labor" camps, where reportedly torture is used routinely resulting in many deaths. The Special Rapporteurs are further concerned by reports that few Falun Gong practitioners are prosecuted. When charges are laid they reportedly include allegations such as "disturbing social order", "assembling to disrupt public order", "stealing or leaking state secrets" or "using a heretical organization to undermine the implementation of the law". According to the information received, those prosecuted have been unfairly tried and many have received lengthy prison sentences. In this respect it is reported that on 5 November 1999, a Notice issued by the Supreme People's Court instructed all local courts to do their "'political duty"' in bringing to trial and punishing "severely" those charged with "heretical organizations crimes", "particularly Falun Gong", and to handle these cases "under the leadership of the Party committees".
257. By letter dated 26 November 2004, sent jointly with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur notified the Government that he had received allegations concerning Ms. Jiang Zongxiu, age 34, Tongzi county, Guizhou province. On 17 June 2004, she was arrested while she and her mother-in-law were distributing some Christian texts and Bibles in a local market place. Both of them were sentenced to 15 days administrative detention for their suspected activities of "spreading rumors and disturbing the social order." On 18 June around 2 p.m., at the Public Security Bureau, Tongzi County, she was beaten to death during an interrogation. No steps have been taken to investigate the case. An autopsy result issued by the local government claimed that Ms. Jiang died of heart failure.
258. By letter dated 30 November 2004, the Special Rapporteur notified the Government that he had received allegations concerning Zhang Peiqi, Mingyue Township, Antu County, Jilin Province. On 20 March 2004, he was arrested and detained by policemen of the Antu County police station because he practices Falun Gong. He was taken to Haigou Police Station by several policemen (whose names are known to the Special Rapporteur) and tortured for seven days. He was subjected to the tiger bench; his hands and feet were shackled, and he was beaten with hard plastic pipes, as well as a plastic baton, on his head feet and legs; and his hair was pulled.
Urgent appeals
259. On 8 January 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, regarding Cui Suzhen, age 61, Shenze County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. According to the allegations received, she was detained in the Shijiazhuang Labor Camp because she practices Falun Gong. On 8 April 2001, she was transferred to the Gaoyang Labor Camp, Hebei Province. She went on a hunger strike to protest the treatment received, and was force-fed human excrement on three separate occasions, and afterwards suffered from serious diarrhea. As a result, she was sent to the Gaoyang County Hospital for emergency treatment. Upon being sent back to the labor camp, she was continuously beaten by the guards, who are said to have crushed her nipples, shocked her with electric batons simultaneously while pouring water over her, used pliers to pinch her flesh, and buried her in snow until she passed out. She is reported to be still detained in the labor camp.
261. On 4 February 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, with respect to the following allegations, to which the Government responded by letter dated 21 May 2004:
262. Tian Xianofei, age 40, Pingshan District, Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province. He is serving a 10-year sentence in the Huazi Prison, Liaoyang City, for being a Falun Gong practitioner, began a hunger strike on 20 July 2003. He has recently been held in solitary confinement with two prisoners monitoring him around the clock. While he is asleep, his hands are handcuffed to the bed. His health is deteriorating from forced feedings and he has difficulty walking. He is denied medical treatment, and will continue to be denied such treatment until his internal organs malfunction or he renounces Falun Gong. He is not permitted visits by his family.
264. Cao Jiguang, a 35-year-old employee of the Cotton and Linen Company, Linshui County, Sichuan Province. He is serving a five-year sentence in Guangyuan Jail, Sichuan Province, for being a Falun Gong practitioner. He is detained in a small cell where five inmates are ordered to watch him throughout the day. He is on the verge of death after beginning a hunger-strike to protest against his alleged torture by the prison guards. On a previous hunger strike, Cao Jiguang was force fed by the jail's doctor, who inserted a plastic tube into his trachea and pulled it out repeatedly to hurt him. Before force-feeding him, the guards opened his mouth with an instrument, which caused severe injuries inside his mouth. After his hunger strike, the guards reduced his food by half.
266. On 4 February 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, regarding Liu Xiaolian, age 64, Chibi Town, Chibi City, Hubei Province. According to the allegations received, on 28 December 2003, she was arrested by the local Chibi City police and her whereabouts are unknown. Ms. Xiaolian has reportedly been detained on several occasions and subjected to torture and ill-treatment for being a Falun Gong practitioner.
268. On 26 February 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, regarding Sun Yuhua. According to the allegations received, on 14 January 2004 at about 2pm, she was arrested at her home because she practiced Falun Gong by a group of policemen (whose names are known to the Rapporteurs) led by the Chief of the Political Security Team of Hulan County Police Station. The policemen took Ms. Sun to Hulan County Police Station, where officers (whose names are known to the Rapporteurs) beat and tortured her. She was later sent to Hulan County Second Detention Centre, where she went on a hunger strike to protest her torture and detention. When she refused to give up her beliefs, she was transferred to the Hulan County First Detention Centre, where she continued her hunger strike, and was force-fed, causing her physical condition to become critical. As a result of his public disclosure of the persecution of Falun Gong, Ms. Sun's husband, Zhang Qingsheng, was detained at Hulan County First Detention Centre. The police from Hulan County Police Station also arrested Ms. Sun's daughter, an 18 year-old student at Hulan County College, on 14 January 2004. She was interrogated and tortured for four days, before being sent to Harbin Second Detention Centre.
272. On 2 March 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, regarding Li Dongqing, a Falun Gong practitioner. According to the allegations received, she is detained at Dabei Women's Prison, Baixitaizi village, Pingluo Town, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province. Li Dongqing, who suffers from hepatitis, has been subjected to prolonged periods of solitary confinement, scolding, beatings, and shocking with electric batons by guards, including during her period of detention at the Masanjia Labor Camp. Currently, her body is swollen and her state of mental health is said to be deteriorating.
273. On 15 March 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, regarding Yiwen Tang, a 37-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Zuhai suburb, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. On 23 February 2004, she was taken from her home and is currently detained for re-education at the Chutou Law School, Guangzhou Baiyun district. On 10 March 2004 information was received that Yiwen Tang's health condition is critical. She is said to have been on hunger strike for 17 days to protest her detention. The family have appealed to the police in Guangzhou City to have an investigation into the legality of her detention and are calling for her immediate release. Allegedly no action has been taken to date.
276. On 30 April 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, regarding Gong Sheng Liang (cited in a previously transmitted communication, E/CN.4/2004/56/Add.1, paras. 384 and 385). According to the allegations received, on 12 April 2004, his relatives visited him in Hongshan Prison and found that he was unable to walk and needed to be carried by four other inmates. It is reported that Gong Sheng Liang said that he feared for his life and sought a transfer to another prison.
278. On 30 April 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, regarding Liu Mei, a 36-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Donggang City, Liaoning Province. According to the allegations received, she is held in Dabei Prison, Shenyang City. On 10 March 2004, a relative who visited her reported that Liu Mei was carried to the visiting room wearing a large gauze mask, and that she was extremely weak and thin. The guards immediately stopped the meeting when she said that she was dying, and since then no information on her situation has been available.
279. On 7 May 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, regarding Huang Xiangwei, age 44, a high school music teacher, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province. He is held at Changlinzi Labor Camp. He undertook a hunger strike to protest ill-treatment by the camp guards, as a result of which he lapsed into a coma and was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. Since his admission to the camp's hospital around early April 2004, no information has been available on his condition and he was not allowed any visitors.
281. On 18 May 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Special Rapporteur on right to freedom of opinion and expression, regarding Jin Jiang and his wife, Wei Limei, Botou City, Hebei Province. According to the allegations received, on 8 April 2004, they were arrested for giving explanations about the persecution of Falun Gong in their restaurant. The couple is detained at Botou Detention Centre, where they started a hunger strike to protest their detention, and were force-fed as a consequence. When Jin Jiang did not cooperate, the police beat him, broke his legs and two of his ribs, ruptured his right eardrum and dislocated his jaw. Wei Limei was beaten and was covered with bruises. They may be denied medical treatment.
285. On 15 July 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, with respect to allegations received concerning:
286. Geng Juying, a Falun Gong practitioner, Luozhuang Hamlet, Chengbo village, Mengzhou City, Henan Province. She is detained in Shibalihe Labor Camp. In 2000, she was arrested at home and taken to a detention centre, together with her eight month-old child, by the "610 Office", Mengzhou City, and officers from Mengzhou City Police Station (whose names are known to the Special Rapporteurs). On 25 May 2002, after Ms. Geng's release, police officers (whose names are known to the Special Rapporteurs) took her to the police station, without a warrant. Ms. Geng was again pregnant at the time. The police officers forced her to have an abortion so that she could be sent to a labor camp. They are said to have forcibly given her an injection to induce the abortion, watched the procedure and mocked her when she was in pain. She was sent to a detention centre in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, and later to the Shibalihe Labor Camp where she is still detained. Ms. Geng's father, Geng Xuecai, mother, Shen Guangbai, elder sister, Geng Xiaocui, and brother, Geng Huaming, have also been detained many times because they practice Falun Gong.
287. Ms. Chen Yaru, a 46-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, Xiaohaidi, Hexi district, Tianjin City. Her current whereabouts are unknown. In April 2001, she was taken from her home and sentenced to two years of forced labor at the Tianjin City Jianxin Women's Forced Labor Camp, No. 3 Squadron, No. 6 Brigade, where she was tortured. On 13 May 2002, Ms. Chen practiced Falun Gong exercises in the labor camp and, as punishment, the camp police confined her to a small, dark room where they beat her and trampled on her arms. She was chained spread-eagled to her bed for 23 days. On 6 April 2003, Ms. Chen and another Falun Gong practitioner tore down the anti-Falun Gong slogans posted inside the Squadron. As a result, the guards dragged them into a room where they stripped them down to their underclothes and tied up their hands. Then the guards dragged them into the hallway and ordered them to kneel down. When they refused, six policemen (including officers whose names are known to the Special Rapporteurs) used six electric batons simultaneously on Ms. Chen. One policeman used the electric baton on her genitalia for 20 minutes. Then they did the same to the other female prisoner. Ms. Chen was shocked with electric batons all over her body, to the point that her teeth became loose. For more than one month after this, her right arm was paralyzed.
288. Ms. Yan Shujun. Her current whereabouts are unknown. In November 2000, she was arrested by the Tianjin City, Heping District Public Security Bureau because she refused to give up Falun Gong, and taken to a police station where she was slapped. She was sentenced to two-and-a-half years of forced labor and detained at the No. 4 Brigade, Banqiao Women's Forced Labor Camp, Tianjin City. On 1 June 2001, Ms. Yan was transferred to the Tianjin City Jianxin Women's Forced Labor Camp, No. 3 Squadron, No. 6 Brigade. Because she refused to renounce Falun Gong, the female camp guards deprived her of sleep, allowing her as little as two hours of sleep per day. In protest, Ms. Yan went on a hunger strike for 12 days. Subsequently, the camp extended her term of detention. On 1 April 2003 the No. 3 Squadron attempted to brainwash Ms. Yan. The camp policewomen dragged Ms. Yan into a tiny, dark room and hit her all over her body with electric batons. They exposed Ms. Yan's body in front of the camp's male discipline instructors to demonstrate their electric baton torture. Then they confined Ms. Yan to a 1.6 ft x 1 ft x 5 ft wooden cage where she was forced to remain in a crouched position for eight days. Afterwards she had significant muscular and skeletal problems.
289. Ms. Guo Baohua, in her 30s, Tonggu district, Tianjin City. Her current whereabouts are unknown. In April 2001, Ms. Guo Baohua, was arrested by the police who tied her up and beat her because she refused to read anti-Falun Gong articles. They confined her to a wooden cage for more than one month. Ms. Guo went on a hunger strike for 37 days to protest this treatment. During her hunger strike she was handcuffed and tied up, and was put in solitary confinement for more than one month. Police handcuffed her to a radiator, then handcuffed her spread-eagled between two radiators. Later, the police handcuffed her and suspended her by her wrists. On 1 April 2003, the police shocked Ms. Guo with several electric batons simultaneously, and put her in a wooden cage for several days.
290. Ms. Su Yanhua, Lianjiangkou, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province. She is detained in Jiamusi Labor Camp and her health is in critical condition. On 15 April, 2002, she was arrested at her brother's house by local police because she was a Falun Gong practitioner. She was sent to Lianjiangkou Detention Centre and two weeks later transferred to the Jiamusi Labor Camp. Upon her arrival at Jiamusi, she was tortured and forced to undergo brainwashing. In July 2002, the labor camp guards forced her to sit on a small stool and watch anti-Falun Gong videos. When she refused to watch, a guard (whose name is known to the Special Rapporteurs) dragged her downstairs and handcuffed her to a bed. She began a hunger strike to protest the treatment received, so the guards force-fed her milk saturated with salt for seven days. In November 2002, guards forced Ms. Su to sit on a stool with sharp triangular ridges across its surface for more than 10 hours a day. They made her put both hands on her thighs and did not allow her to move, causing the skin on her buttocks to tear and bleed. Each time she moved, guards with electric batons shocked and beat her simultaneously. When she refused to read an anti-Falun Gong article, they beat her again. At the end of November 2002, because Ms. Su still refused to watch the videos, a guard (whose name is known to the Special Rapporteurs) handcuffed her to a bed in an asymmetrical position for two weeks. Ms. Su was not allowed to bathe for a long time, and by February 2003, she had developed scabies. On one occasion, the guards sprayed her with a chemical that caused her severe chest pains and rendered her unable to move her head or hands. One morning in May 2003, when Ms. Su began to practice Falun Gong exercises, two guards (whose names are known to the Special Rapporteurs), rounded up some other inmates to beat her. They dragged her to the second floor, where they forced her to sit on a cold cement floor with her hands handcuffed behind her back for ten days. On the tenth day, guards (whose names are known to the Special Rapporteurs) handcuffed her with one arm reaching down behind the head and the other hand meeting it from the lower back for 13 days. After her hands were released, she was unable to move her arms and could barely walk. In June 2003, a guard (whose name is known to the Special Rapporteurs) slapped her face so hard that she temporarily lost her hearing. Ms. Su was not released after her term expired.
293. On 30 August 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal, concerning Gao Rongrong. According to the allegations received, she is detained in Longshan Forced Labor Camp, Shenyang City. In May 2004 her face was severely disfigured by an electric baton. She began to urinate blood and has not been able to take food or water since 9 August 2004. Her eye sockets are depressed, her eyelids cannot close, and she is emaciated. Doctors from No. 1 Hospital, an affiliate of China Medical University, Shenyang City, expressed that her life is in danger, and have repeatedly issued "Terminally Ill Notices". However, an official of the Shenyang City's Judicial Bureau refused to release her, and allegedly stated, "If there is any danger, let the hospital treat her. Don't allow her to go home even if she dies."
297. On 19 October 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, regarding Falun Dafa practitioner, Zhao Yougang, age 32. According to the allegations received, he is detained in Wuxi Prison where he is being subjected to torture, following a hunger strike he began in June 2004 to protest his ill-treatment. He reportedly weighs 35 kg and is being violently force-fed seven to eight times every night by the prison guards.
301. On 26 October 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, regarding Zhang Bo, Ms. Wang Jie, and Cai Shaojie, three Falun Gong practitioners, and Li Weiji. According to the allegations received, Zhang Bo is detained at an unknown location, Wang Jie and Cai Shaojie are detained in Dabei Prison, and Li Weiji is detained in Panjin Prison. It is reported that the police broke both the arms of Li Weiji and caused him a lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. As a result of the treatment suffered, he can hardly walk.
Observations
386. On 16 June 2004, the Special Rapporteur issued a statement, concerning the postponement of his visit to China. The 12-day visit, which was scheduled to take place from the end of June 2004, was postponed at the request of the Government, which cited the need for additional preparation time.
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