Posted on 12/02/2005 8:01:01 AM PST by NativeNewYorker
Beijing (dpa) - The use of torture is ``widespread'' in China, the United Nations' special investigator on torture said Friday at the end of the first visit of its kind to the communist country.
Manfred Novak's visit came after 10 years of discussions on the criteria including unhindered access to prisoners and unsupervised talks with them.
Speaking to journalists in Beijing, Novak said he was able to confirm many allegations of torture methods in China, but noted some progress, primarily in the cities.
Torture has declined in urban areas, he said, adding, however, that he observed ``a palpable level of fear and self-censorship of those detainees I interviewed'' that he had not experienced in his investigations in other countries.
Novak charged Chinese officials with severely hampering his inquiry. Police and state security officials had shadowed him and his fellow investigators and eavesdropped on their conversations with victims and their relatives, he said.
``Victims and family members were intimidated by security personnel during the visit, placed under surveillance, instructed not to meet with me or physically prevented from meeting with me,'' Novak said.
After protesting to the Foreign Ministry, the U.N. official said, the surveillance of his team had lessened but did not stop. Discussions with prisoners had even been limited with a view to the working hours of the guards which was not usual in other countries.
Owing to the restrictions on his work and a duration of only two weeks, the results were limited, Novak said.
``My preliminary conclusion is that as far as the amount of torture, I would recognize a certain decline in allegations, but nevertheless, torture remains widespread in the country.''
Novak listed many allegations including beatings, the use of electric canes, beatings from prisoners by order of prison guards, being submerged in water or sewage and subjection to extreme heat or cold.
Prisoners were also forced to hold painful positions, were not allowed sleep, were placed in solitary confinement or denied medical treatment.
Novak had met prisoners, their relatives and lawyers in prisons and reeducation camps in Beijing, Urumwi in the northwestern region of Xinjiang and in the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
Torture often began shortly after the arrest of a suspect because police officials were under pressure to get confessions. Novak sharply criticised China's punishment for ``deviating behaviour'' in re-education camps which was irreconcilable with human rights.
Re-education to ``break a prisoner's will and change their personality'' was also prevalent in prisons. Innocent suspects made false testimonies to improve the terms of their imprisonment and in the hope of early release.
The problem was increasingly recognized by the government in Beijing, he added.
While measures had been taken and regulations issued, ``There is still much to do,'' Novak said, and called for extensive legal reforms allowing lawyers to contact detainees earlier. Judges should become more independent and an effective complaint mechanism be put in place.
``Criminal procedures need to come into line with international standards of fair trial,'' he added.
...guess the International Red Cross missed that huh?
Doogle
Nothing could be as bad as that.
</sarcasm>
Duh?
wait.. wait...
BUSH'S FAULT!!!!!
ahahaha :/
Breaking news. The libs will act as if they just discovered this.
Kewl, are we gonna invade China next week?
"But much worse at Abu Ghraib!" LOL!!
But seriously, I wonder if the definition of torture in China compares to what the definition is when our troops are being blamed for torture.
UN INSPECTOR: TORTURE ``WIDESPREAD'' IN CHINA
Perfect way to end this torture : Set up a meeting with china, germany, france, syria, North Korea and Iran...ASK them if they think China should or shouldnt be allowed to keep their people enslaved throughout their lives...wait for an answer, i dunno, maybe a year or two...
Once 4 out of 6 respond that China can do whatever they want to do, sign a resolution saying that members of the international community do not believe that China is into slavery or torture. If the whole world believes China is cool, then who cares what they do to their own...right?
File this one under "D" for "Duh".
Will this be the lead story on NBC tonight???
Unfortunately, the recent misuse of the word "torture" by some for partisan purposes has diluted the meaning of it and makes people yawn when they hear about stories of genuine torture.
Similar to when you see the kooks running around with signs that say:
Bush = Hitler
Bush = terrorist
Bush = fascist
Go on in there and make 'em stop......RIGHT NOW DAMMIT!.
heh heh heh
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