Document - China: Fear of torture or ill-treatment/possible prisoner of conscience: Liy Yawen (f)
PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 17/009/2005
22 April 2005
UA 97/05 Fear of torture or ill-treatment/possible prisoner of conscience
CHINA LIU Yawen (f), aged 56, Falun Gong practitioner
Liu Yawen, a member of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, was reportedly detained on 31 March. She is being held incommunicado and interrogated at the Xuanwu District Detention Centre in Beijing, and is at risk of torture or ill-treatment. She appears to be prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful expression of her beliefs.
Liu Yawen was detained by police when she was seen distributing Falun Gong Video-CDs in Beijing. After she was detained, police officers reportedly searched her home for other Falun Gong materials.
The police who administer the Xuanwu District Detention Centre have reportedly prevented members of Liu Yawen's family from visiting her. It is not known whether she has been charged with any offence.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Falun Gong spiritual movement was banned in China in July 1999 as a “heretical organization” and a “threat to social and political stability”. Since then, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have reportedly been imprisoned, assigned to “re-education through labour”, or forcibly institutionalized in psychiatric hospitals where they are at high risk of torture and ill-treatment, in particular if they refuse to renounce their beliefs.
Overseas Falun Gong organizations claim that over 1,800 practitioners in China have died either in custody or shortly after they have been released, largely as a result of injuries sustained as a result of torture and ill-treatment while in custody. Amnesty International has been unable to verify these statistics but remains concerned about the widespread use of arbitrary detention and torture or ill-treatment against Falun Gong practitioners.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Chinese or your own language:
- expressing concern that Liu Yawen has been arbitrarily detained purely for the peaceful expression of her beliefs;
- urging the authorities to unconditionally and immediately release Liu Yawen unless she is charged with a recognisably criminal offence;
- calling on the authorities to guarantee Liu Yawen’s safety, and that she is not subjected to torture or ill-treatment while she remains in custody;
- urging the authorities to grant her immediate access to her family, legal assistance and any medical treatment that she may need while in custody;
- expressing concern about the widespread use of arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment against Falun Gong practitioners, and calling for those responsible for torture or ill-treatment to be brought to justice.
APPEALS TO:
Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council
9 Xihuangcheng Genbeijie
Beijingshi 100032
People's Republic of China
Fax: + 86 10 6596 1109 or 2660 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Email: webmaster@mfa.gov.cn (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Director, Beijing Municipality Public Security Bureau Xuanwu Branch
1 Hutong
Liangjiayuan
Xuanwu Qu
Beijingshi 100052
Beijingshi
People's Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Director
Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau
MA Zhenchuan Juzhang
Beijingshi Gong'anju
9 Qianmen Dongdajie
Dongchengqu
Beijingshi 100740
People's Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Director
COPIES TO:
Mayor of Beijing Municipal People's Government
WANG Qishan Shizhang
Beijingshi Renmin Zhengfu
2 Zhengyilu
Dongchengqu
Beijingshi 100744
People's Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Mayor
and to diplomatic representatives of China accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 3 June 2005.