[CHRB] Imprisoned Tibetan Monk in Urgent Need of Medical Attention, 5 More Cases Go Under Medical Watch (8/29-9/4/2014)

September 3, 2014       Comments Off on [CHRB] Imprisoned Tibetan Monk in Urgent Need of Medical Attention, 5 More Cases Go Under Medical Watch (8/29-9/4/2014)

China Human Rights Briefing

August 29 – September 4, 2014

Contents

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment

• 5 More Cases of Detainees in Urgent Need of Medical Attention: Updated List
• Imprisoned Tibetan Monk in Bad Health Due to Mistreatment

Special Notice

• Letter to UN Experts: Alarming Trend of Depriving Detainees’ Access to Legal Counsel
• Chinese-Language Guide Available to Support Civil Society Interaction With UN Special Procedures

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Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment

5 More Cases of Detainees in Urgent Need of Medical Attention: Updated List

Five more detained individuals in urgent need of medical treatment have been added to a watch list, bringing to 17 the number of such cases that CHRD is tracking. Mr. Zhang Lin (张林), Mr. Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄), Mr. Hada (哈达), Mr. Ilham Tohti (伊力哈木.土赫提), and Mr. Xie Fulin (谢福林) were most recently placed on the list, which CHRD launched in June 2014 in conjunction with the United Nations’ International Day of Support of Victims of Torture(see full list).

Zhang Lin has cervical spondylosis, a painful condition caused by the degeneration of joints in the vertebrae, and odontopathy (dental disease). Zhang is also unable to bend his right leg and has developed an infection in his left eye that is threatening his vision. It is unclear what kind of medical treatment he has received, if any. Zhang’s lawyer has twice applied for the activist’s release on bail, but it was turned down on the grounds that Zhang would be a “danger to society” if released. On September 5, a court in Anhui Province will announce its verdict against Zhang, who was tried in December 2013 on a charge of “gathering a crowd to disrupt order of a public place.”

Guo Feixiong’s health has been rapidly deteriorating since his detention. Authorities have twice refused applications by his lawyers for Guo to receive medical bail, claiming that Guo poses a “danger to society” if released.

Hada, who has been held in a black jail in Inner Mongolia, suffers from heart disease, a serious stomach ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, an unknown kidney condition, and depression. He was denied proper medical care during his previous 15-year imprisonment. It is unclear if he is receiving any medical treatment.

Ilham Tohti suffers from a number of medical conditions, including heart disease, pharyngitis (an inflammation of the pharynx), and prostatitis (infection of the prostate). He told his lawyer he has been give some medication, but his conditions have not been effectively treated. He has also been tortured and deprived of food and water.

Xie Fulin suffers from high blood pressure, heart disease, and an unknown stomach ailment. He reportedly suffered a cerebral haemorrhage caused by inadequate treatment for his high blood pressure in 2013. Authorities have blocked his release for medical parole, and his wife fears he may die in prison.

Imprisoned Tibetan Monk in Bad Health Due to Mistreatment

Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche, a Tibetan monk, is reportedly unrecognizable due to severe conditions in the prison in Sichuan Province where he is being held. Rinpoche is weak and emaciated, according to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Rinpoche is serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence on trumped up charges of “illegally owning guns and explosives” and “occupation of state property.” During the monk’s December 2009 trial, his lawyers reported Rinpoche had been tortured for months into making a forced confession when he was being held incommunicado. Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is a reincarnated Tulku (Living Buddha) of the Tehor Kardze Monastery in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, and the head of the Pangri and Ya-tseg nunneries.[1]

Special Notice

Letter to UN Experts: Alarming Trend of Depriving Detainees’ Access to Legal Counsel

CHRD recently wrote to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers about the alarming trend in China of authorities’ denying detained human rights defenders visits from their lawyers. CHRD shared information on 20 cases illustrating this issue of rights deprivation, which violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, as well as China’s Criminal Procedure Law and Lawyers Law. Among the cases presented is that of lawyer Mr. Chang Boyang (常伯阳), who has been held in Zhengzhou No. 3 Detention Center in Henan Province since late May without access to his attorney. Disbarred lawyer Tang Jingling (唐荆陵),who spearheaded the “Non-violent Citizens’ Disobedience Movement” that advocates for legal and social reform in China, has been denied lawyer visits since being formally arrested on June 20. CHRD’s communication also documents several activists in Henan Province who have been held incommunicado since being taken into custody in May.

 

Chinese-Language Guide Available to Support Civil Society Interaction With UN Special Procedures

CHRD has released a Chinese-language guide for civil society interactions with the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures, especially geared for bringing individual cases of rights abuses to the attention of independent experts at the world body (see link). The handbook provides experiences of best practice and examples to illustrate how the mechanism can be effective in the Chinese context. Rights defenders in China compiled the guide, and CHRD provided research and editorial support.

Contacts: 

Renee Xia, International Director (Mandarin, English),

+1 240 374 8937, reneexia@chrdnet.com, Follow on Twitter: @ReneeXiaCHRD

 

Victor Clemens, Research Coordinator (English),

+1 209 643 0539, victorclemens@chrdnet.com

 

Frances Eve, Research Assistant (English),

+ 1 646 801 9479, franceseve@chrdnet.com, Follow on Twitter: @_FrancesEve

 

Follow CHRD on Twitter:@CHRDnet

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[1] “Prominent Tibetan religious figure found in emaciated condition in prison,” August 28, 2014, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).