China tells UN ‘we have zero tolerance for torture’
Sophie 12 November 2008, 07:51AM
China avoided the UN's questions and advised they had a policy of 'zero tolerance' towards torture. There are still huge gaps of information and China was not forthcoming on individual cases or broader practices of reported torture and inhumane treatment.
The UN Committee Against Torture has questioned China for 2 days on their adherence to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The UN presented China with allegations made by Amnesty International and a dozen other NGOs about the reported brutal physical and mental treatment of detainees, including monks and nuns arrested during the demonstrations earlier this year in Tibet. Chief of the 31 member delegation and China's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Li Baodong rejected these allegations as "groundless and untrue".
The 10 member panel asked Chinese authorities relating to reported mistreatment and disappearance of human rights lawyers, Falun Gong practitioners, drug users and critics of the Beijing government.
A United States Committee member, Felice Gaer of the United States stated; "So much of the information that we are seeking is missing".
Li Baodong advised that his government had "zero tolerance for torture" and was making progress in stamping out abuse.
Three years ago, the U.N.'s torture investigator said inmates told him they were forced to lie still for weeks, faced beatings with electric batons or sticks, or faced other ill-treatment. Groups such as ours have documented cases where torture has been committed by state officials.
The only case that Chinese officials addressed was that of Gendun Choekyi Nyima, who in 1995 was chosen by the Dalai Lama to become the Panchen Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's second-highest ranking figure.Nyima, who was six years old at the time, disappeared with his family soon after and has not been heard from since. There have been reports that Nyima, who would now be 19 years old, is held under house arrest by Chinese authorities. Shen Yang, an official with China's Ethnic Affairs Commission, told the committee; "Choekyi Nyima and his family are leading a normal life and they don't want to be disturbed" .
The U.N. committee is to issue a list of findings and recommendations on China.
Background to the UN Committee hearing.
More news reports on the hearing.
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This blog entry was created by Sophie and does not necessarily represent the position or opinion of Amnesty International Australia.
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Chris S
12 November 2008, 05:51PM
It is great to hear that Choekyi Nyima is alive to the best of our knowledge and the fact that China have released this information. However, the normal life that he is living now is far removed from the normal life he should be living, with proper religious training. We must try to preserve the Dalai Lama/Panchen Lama student/teacher relationship!
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