E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.6
page 45
held in solitary confinement. During his visit, he inspected the ‘Intensive Training’ section
which houses 10 small solitary confinement cells and was informed by the prison authorities that
the maximum duration in solitary confinement was seven days. However, on consulting the
registry the Special Rapporteur noted that of the six people held in solitary confinement between
1 January 2005 and 24 November 2005, three had been held for 60 days and one for 27 days.
Detainees also stated that Falun Gong practitioners who had not renounced their beliefs after
six months in detention were placed in the Intensive Training section until they were ‘reformed’.
Falun Gong practitioners formerly detained at this facility mentioned that they would refer to
this section as the “Intensive Torture Section”.
11.
The Special Rapportuer notes that a number of detainees declined to speak to him, and
others requested absolute confidentiality. The only person willing to speak openly with the
Special Rapporteur was the following:
12.
Ms. Yang Yu Ming, a Falun Gong practitioner. Since 14 April 2005, she has been
detained for “disrupting social order.” She described her treatment in detention as ‘quite good’.
She said that she is allocated study time and sometimes is able to do physical exercise. It is her
first time in RTL and she has had no encounter with ill-treatment to date. She said that the
majority of detainees are Falun Gong practitioners.
B. Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region
IV. Lhasa Prison No. 1 (Visited on 26 November 2005)
13.
The prison has a male prison population of 800 detainees of which approximately 70%
are Tibetan, 20% are Han Chinese and 10% belong to other ethnic groups. General conditions
were satisfactory and inmates can work by weaving Tibetan mats, planting flowers and fixing
cars. In terms of solitary confinement, the Special Rapporteur noted that the cells measured 4m
x 8m, with a large window and concrete floor. He was told that a detainee can spend between
one and 15 days in solitary confinement. The Special Rapporteur was not given access to any
prison registers as the relevant Officer was not present.
14.
The first set of prisoners that the Special Rapporteur approached for an interview all
declined the opportunity to speak with him. After lengthy assurances, one prisoner was willing
to speak openly with the Special Rapporteur.
15.
Tseren Puntso, aged 23. On 13 July 2002 at his business, he was arrested in connection
with the homicide of a person who died as a result of a fight the previous day. He confessed
immediately at the police station and was detained at the Shikaze Pretrial Detention Centre until
January 2003, when he was transferred to Lhasa Prison to serve a seven-year sentence, which has
been reduced to six. From this time until April 2003 he was held in the section known as the
“Team for New Prisoners”, where new arrivals undergo education on prison rules. He indicated
that he has not been ill-treated. In the summer time he carries out basic mechanical repairs.
Recreation includes basketball games in the main court of the prison. Tibetan, Chinese and
mathematics are taught at the prison.
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