E/CN.4/1994/31
page 37
(bb) Zhang Lezhi, a Christian member of the banned New Testament church,
was arrested on 8 September 1992 in Nine Lanes village, Shouguang county and
taken first to a local police station and two days later to the Shouguang city
detention centre. While in custody, he was reportedly assaulted by two police
officers with an electric baton. After the beating his legs were allegedly
manacled with fetters weighing nine kilograms; his hands were also handcuffed
and the handcuffs and fetters were tied together with a short chain so that
Zhang Lezhi had to stay bent at a 180-degree angle. The beatings reportedly
continued while he was thus chained and an additional fetter was later added
to his legs, bringing the total weight to 13 kilograms. According to the
reports, he was chained in this painful position day and night for three
months without the chains ever being removed, even for sleeping or eating.
When the weather became cold, he reportedly requested permission to have the
chains removed so as to put on additional clothes, but this was also denied.
(cc) Zhu Zizheng was arrested in the same circumstances as Zhang Lezhi.
According to the reports, he was forced to sit for a whole day on a so-called
"security chair" (anquan yi) which had spikes on the sides. This chair is
reportedly used at the detention centre for punishing inmates and any movement
on the chair causes severe pain. Zhu Zizheng was reportedly beaten while he
was sitting on the chair and had food forced into his mouth.
159. With regard to these four last persons the Government replied that the
investigation was pending.
Urgent appeals
160. In addition to the above-mentioned cases, the Special Rapporteur
transmitted to the Government of China four urgent appeals on behalf of the
persons mentioned in the following paragraphs, regarding whom fears were
expressed that they might be subjected to torture. The date on which the
appeals were sent is mentioned in parentheses at the end of the corresponding
summary.
161. Sonam Wangdu and Ganden Tashi, prisoners at Drapchi prison, Lhasa, were
said to be in very bad physical condition owing to the mistreatment they had
suffered since their arrests in 1988. Fears for their lives were expressed
unless they were given proper medical care and protection from further
mistreatment. (16 December 1992)
162. Rinchen Gendun, a tourist guide, and Lobsang Yanten (also known as
Tsasur Choenzed) described as an elderly former monk from Drepung monastery,
as well as a woman whose identity was not reported, were arrested at their
homes in the Ramoche area in Lhasa on 13 May 1993 around midnight and taken
to an unknown place. It was reported that the arrests were carried out
approximately 48 hours before a visit to the region by a European Community
delegation and, according to the source, the reason for the arrests was to
prevent those people from contacting the members of that delegation. It
was also alleged that in the past several people arrested in similar
circumstances, including Sonam Wangdu, Lhundrups Kalden and Sonam Dolkar,
had been held incommunicado and severely tortured: the first two are now
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