BEIJING (Reuters) - China's willingness to invite a United Nations torture investigator for a first ever visit might herald a softening on human rights but his trip is likely to come with conditions, diplomats said on Tuesday.
"As wonderful as the news sounds, we've heard it before, which is why I'm not leaping for joy yet," a Western diplomat said.
"There's got to be some kind of a hook," she said.
A European Union delegation in Beijing for regular human rights talks said on Friday China planned to invite the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit "quite soon".
The rapporteur, British law professor Sir Nigel Rodley, has been negotiating the terms of a China visit since 1999.
Rights groups say torture, despite being outlawed, is common in Chinese jails and rooted in endemic legal and institutional deficiencies.
Rodley has insisted on unfettered access to prisons and detention centres during a fact-finding mission, but Beijing has said previously it would agree only to a "friendly" visit, which appeared to limit his access.
U.N. officials in Beijing said they had heard nothing of a forthcoming invitation, and Rodley, who investigates allegations of torture and degrading treatment worldwide, said he had had no contact with Chinese officials since May.
China's Foreign Ministry declined immediate comment.
Diplomats said China's willingness to invite the rapporteur did not necessarily mean it had eased the conditions for a visit and said China may be waiting until Rodley, who took up the U.N. post in 1993, stepped down later this year.
"They did not say that, but I suppose that is the case, of course," a second diplomat said. "I know that he is leaving the job."
OTHER RAPPORTEURS LINING UP
In addition to the torture envoy, other U.N. special rapporteurs have also asked to visit China and the EU delegation said on Friday Beijing was considering inviting the rapporteurs on religious intolerance and education.
But China has said it would consider the cases in order, the first diplomat said. Allowing the torture investigator to come could be a breakthrough for the bids of the others, she said.
"It would at least open the door. Right now the whole thing is just jammed. The failure to resolve Rodley basically means that nobody else can come in," the diplomat said.
The rapporteurs work under U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, who is scheduled to visit Beijing on November 7-9 for a seminar on teaching human rights, the United Nations said.
Rodley has expressed concern about "persistent allegations" of ill-treatment of Chinese detained in connection with political or religious activities, including members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement.
After Beijing issued a "friendly visit" invitation in 1999, Rodley said he wanted to visit Tibet where rights groups allege imprisoned Buddhist monks and nuns have been tortured.
Rodley has visited Mexico, Brazil, Kenya, and East Timor in recent years and has criticised many for abuses.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/reuters/asia-69054.html
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