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The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Begins Investigation of Human Rights in China
(Clearwisdom.net) The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
arrived at China on September 19, 2004 for a 12-day on-site investigation of
China's violation of human rights in areas including illegal arrest, arbitrary
detention, and arbitrary extension of detention. The definition of "arbitrary arrests" Arbitrary arrests are in contrast to legal arrests. Any arrest that violates
the basic human rights as described in the "Universal
Declaration of Human Rights" is categorized as an arbitrary arrest of the
second kind. All arrests of Falun Gong practitioners belong to the category of
arbitrary arrests of the second kind, and are illegal. Legal arrests must go through due process. Any arrest or detention not going
through the due process of law is regarded as an arbitrary detention, and is
categorized as an arbitrary arrest of the third kind. All secret trials, and all
sentences of forced-labor belong to arbitrary arrest of the third kind and are
illegal. Legal detentions have fixed durations. Detentions beyond their terms are
considered arbitrary arrests even for criminal offenders, and are categorized as
arbitrary arrests of the first kind. What will happen during the UN investigation? Leila Zerrougui, the chairwoman, Tamas Ban, vice chairman, as well as other
officials of the working group will mainly investigate Beijing, Sichuan
Province, and Tibet. The working group will meet with Chinese officials in the
foreign ministry, justice department, and the police department. They will also
meet with officials from the Chinese People's Supreme Court, and representatives
of the Chinese People's Prosecutor's Office, Chinese Lawyers' Association, and
local or nationwide private and non-government organizations. The UN officials will visit prisons, forced-labor camps, detention centers,
jails, mental hospitals, and police departments. They will request to meet
privately with the inmates and look for related evidence. They will also meet
with family members of the victims. In past investigations, they have met with
obstruction and often were not allowed to see the real situation. Local
officials would hide the victims and stage shows by organizing inmates to study
or have fun together. The languages that the group members use The working group will have their own Chinese translators. Ms. Zerrougui
speaks English and French, and Mr. Ban speaks English. Other members can speak
Spanish. After the investigation The working group will compile a report and submit it to the 61st
conference of the UN Committee next March. This will be a summary of the status
of human rights -- "arbitrary arrest" in China, and will be an official UN
document. It will be a document referenced by governments of different countries
and human rights organizations. The United Nations stipulates that the government shall not conduct
persecution or revenge toward the victims or witnesses who were interviewed
during the investigation. Because the persecution against Falun Gong in China is
still going on, there is no guarantee that the victims will be protected after
the UN officials leave. Therefore, it is recommended that practitioners who are
in contact with UN officials pay attention to their own safety. Posting date: 10/6/2004 |