Spanish Ambassor to UN critical of Jiang regime human rights atrocities

Joaquin Perez-Villanueva Y Tovar, Ambassador of Spain to the UN in Geneva, criticised the Jiang regime human rights atrocities against Falun Gong practitioners and other groups.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union at the 58th session of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 18/3 - 26/4 2002, the Ambassador stated; "The persecution of democracy activists, religious practitioners and Falun Gong practitioners [Falun Gong is not a religion. For more information on the nature of Falun Gong, click here] is particularly harsh and has led to a great number of cases of torture and deaths in custody."

He also said "The use of torture is widespread. The deaths of detainees in police custody as a result of ill treatment are frequent. No progress has been made in reforming the system of administrative detention, including "re-education through labour", which lacks proper judicial process and often entails forced labour. There are still long sentences for the exercise of the freedom of speech, as well as restrictions on the freedom of press, including barriers to access to Internet.

"Restrictions on the freedom of expression, assembly, association and religion are still in force. Worship is subject to serious limitations."