Statement by Kim Singer
Amnesty International China Group
for "Free Dr. Chunyan Teng"
Press Conference

August 29, 2001

Amnesty International is gravely concerned over continued patterns of abuse seen throughout China including the widespread use of torture, incidents of deaths in custody, arbitrary arrests and the repression of political and religious freedom. The use of torture by law enforcement has been thoroughly documented in AI's February, 2001 report on torture in China, a part of our ongoing campaign against torture worldwide. The report includes documentation of many reported abuses committed against Falun Gong practitioners since 1999.

AI believes that at least 93 practitioners have died in custody as a result of extensive torture, injuries inflicted during force feeding. AI is alarmed at the lack of adequate official response to these numerous reports of ill treatment despite corroborating testimonies, and we are not aware of any ongoing investigations into these reports. Amnesty International calls for the full and impartial investigation of all reports of ill treatment and death in custody and for anyone found guilty of perpetrating such abuse to be brought to justice.

In addition to torture, AI also believes that Falun Gong practitioners have suffered arbitrary arrests, detention, and unfair trials during the government's crack down on what it terms [a] 'heretical organization.' It is reported that many practitioners have been detained and tried behind closed doors such as the case of Dr. Chunyan Teng, a permanent resident of the U.S. and Falun Gong practitioner. Dr. Teng was sentenced by the Chinese government to three years imprisonment in December 2000, following a closed trial. She was detained in Beijing in May 2000, after gathering evidence of the detention of other Falun Gong practitioners in a mental hospital and passing her information along to foreign journalists. Her case reflects ongoing patterns of the imprisonment of US-based persons and the serious repression of political and religious freedom.

AI calls for fair and public trials conducted in line with international human rights standards for all prisoners tried behind closed doors such as Dr. Teng. AI also calls on the government to end the use of torture, arbitrary arrest and detainment of Falun Gong practitioners.

For more information on AI's concerns in China and in regards to the Falun Gong, please consult our website: www.aiusa.org/asia/china/index.html