E/CN.4/2000/9 page 51 Mahpir and Ilyas Zordun, three young Uighur men, who had been forcibly returned from Kazakstan to the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) on 11 February 1999. They had been arrested while attempting to cross the border between the Republic of Kazakstan and the People's Republic of China. They were said to be suspected of involvement in "ethnic separatist activities", and in 1998 a warrant to arrest them was reportedly issued by the Ghulja Municipal Bureau. 227. On 14 June 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal in conjunction with the Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right of freedom of opinion and expression and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on behalf of Zulikar Memet and Saydakhmet Memet, who had reportedly been detained in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in 1998 and February 1999, respectively. It was reported that they were accused of "assisting separatist terrorists" and arrested owing to the fact that they were brothers of Hemit Memet, who had been detained on 11 February 1999 along with Kasim Mahpir and Ilyas Zordun, all reportedly accused of involvement in "ethnic separatist activities" (see above). They had reportedly been moved from a prison in Urumqi to the public security police detention centre in the city of Gulja (Yining). 228. On 1 July 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal on behalf of Ngawang Choephel, who reportedly went missing in August 1995 when he was travelling through Tibet, tape recording traditional Tibetan folk music. He had reportedly been sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for committing espionage. On 19 May 1999, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared his detention arbitrary. He was reportedly originally detained at the Nyari detention centre, in Shigatse, but has since been transferred to the Powo Tramo prison in Tramo county. His health has allegedly deteriorated since his imprisonment. In particular, since 16 August 1998 he has reportedly been vomiting blood and is suffering from tuberculosis and a gastric disease. A letter was reportedly written to the Higher People's Court in China requesting permission for him to have medical treatment, however no response was received. 229. The Government replied on 15 December 1999 that in September 1998 the Xigaze Intermediate People's Court found Ngawang Choephel guilty of spying and on charges of separatism and sentenced him to 18 years' imprisonment, including four years without political rights. The Government further replied that, on appeal, the Tibet Autonomous Region Higher People's Court upheld the guilty verdict, after a closed hearing. The Government advised that the hearing was closed because the case involved State secrets. The Government further advised that he is currently serving his sentence in Bomi prison in Tibet. In relation to medical care, the Government replied that all offenders are entitled to receive free medical care, including annual check-ups, as well as timely treatment if they become ill. The Government reported that in October 1998, Ngawang contracted bronchitis, a lung infection and hepatitis and was treated at the prison hospital for over two months. He received a check-up in January 1999 which found him to be showing signs of recovery and he is now recuperating with oral medication. The Government stated that as in the past, law enforcement authorities are providing every respect and protection of his rights. 230. On 23 July 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent action in conjunction with the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of a large number of Falun Gong practitioners who had reportedly been recently arrested. Falun Gong is said to be an organization committed to the improvement of its practioners' physical and mental well-being