Press Interpreter

12/03/05 -- Manfred Nowak, Special Envoy to the UN Human Rights Commission, confirmed yesterday while in Peking that the use of torture is widespread in China. He accused Hu Jintao’s government of obstructing the organization’s work during its twelve day stay.

The United Nations Investigation into torture confirmed that among the techniques used with detainees are beatings, the use of electric clubs, burning with cigarettes, exposure to extremes of heat and cold, immersion in water, refusal to administer medical treatment, preventing contact with spouses, withholding food, water and sleep. He said, “There has been some progress, however torture continues to be widely used.�

The United Nations envoy mentioned that certain groups have especially been victimized. Among these are political dissidents, followers of the Buddhist religion Falun Gong, Tibetan and Uigur (Muslims who live in the province of Xinjiang) minorities and members of unofficial churches.

Nowak’s visit which includes Tibet and Xinjiang comes after ten years of delays on the part of the UN who is anxious to look into the accusations of activists and international human rights groups concerning the ongoing use of torture in China.

Beating Suspects

The investigation confirmed that beating suspects—especially in rural areas currently take place. This is perhaps evidence of the extreme pressure on the police to extract confessions.

Beijing approved a law this year that threatens punishments against those who use torture during interrogations, but Nowak asked for even more reforms. “The criminal law procedures must come in accordance with international standards and the principles of justice. Without the creation of an independent judiciary (currently under the authority of the Communist Party of China), there is probably no way to tackle the problem." According to Amnesty International, the mistreatment of detainees has sometimes occurred in the presence of judges.

The envoy to the United Nations criticized the system of “reeducation through labor,� during which those accused are sent to the country without judicial review for up to a period of four years.

[Full article]

[This article comes from El Pais, a newspaper based in Madrid, Spain]

By Jose Reinoso

--Translated By Joseph McMullin

Go to original article:

http://www.elpais.es/articulo/elpporint/20051203elpepiint_6/Tes