(Clearwisdom.net)
According to a report by the Epoch Times, World Psychiatric Association (WPA) President Dr. Ahmed Okasha called off its planned investigation of abuses of psychiatry in China after receiving a letter from the President of the Chinese Psychiatric Association (CSP). Dr. Okasha did not reveal the contents of the letter, except to say that he had no choice but to cancel the delegation's investigation until such time as the CSP and the Chinese authorities agree to abide by the conditions set by the WPA for this mission. The WPA delegation was scheduled to begin its work in China on April 4.
What is the CSP Trying to Avoid?
In order to conduct an independent, just and professional investigation in China, the WPA has made sufficient preparation. A team composed of 8 world-renowned psychiatrists from England, America, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway and Morocco was set up, and its mission was to go to China to examine medical records, and interview doctors, patients and their family members when given permission, as well as to investigate cases in which Falun Gong practitioners were alleged to have been mentally abused.
In 1996, the WPA approved the Madrid Declaration, which establishes the ethical standards that should govern psychiatrists worldwide. It expressly forbids the admission of patients into psychiatric institutions for political, racial or religious reasons, or the involvement of psychiatrists in any form of physical or mental torture.
Recently, there has been a popular phrase in China, which is to "getting to be on the same page as the international community." After the WPA determined to conduct an independent investigation, the CSP, member of the WPA, was supposed to actively cooperate with the efforts of the WPA. However, it cancelled the investigation, which makes people wonder if the Chinese psychiatrists are truly following medical and ethical standards in dealing with Falun Gong practitioners, and if they are trying to cover up the fact that Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured mentally.
The Mental Torture of Falun Gong Practitioners is the Result of Jiang Zemin's Annihilation Policy
Under Jiang's persecution policy of "ruining [Falun Gong practitioners'] reputations, cutting them off financially and destroying their bodies," Jiang's followers have used all the nation's resources to achieve their goal. Thus, the CSP and its psychiatrists have voluntarily or involuntarily been involved in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
It has been confirmed that mental torture and abuse is one of the many torture methods used by Jiang's group to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. According to incomplete statistics, at least 1,000 practitioners have been forced into mental hospitals, just because they practice Falun Gong. They are administered nerve damaging drugs. Numerous reports indicate that Falun Gong practitioners are suffering at the hands of psychiatrists and nurses. At least 12 people are confirmed to have died of such torture.
One early case that has been disclosed is that of Mr. Su Gong. Mr. Su, 32 years old, was an engineer at the Instrument Workshop of the Alkene Plant affiliated with Qilu Petroleum Chemical Corporation in Zibo City, Shandong Province. Because he practiced Falun Gong, the Alkene Plant forcibly sent him to Changle Mental Hospital in Weifang City, Shandong Province on May 23, 2000, without informing his family. Every day he was injected with large doses of nerve damaging drugs. On May 31, 2000, his father heard the news, so he went on a hunger strike to protest. The hospital released him nine days later. However, when he was turned over to his father, he was already a totally different person. He had blank eyes and a numb appearance. He was very slow in reacting to things and his limbs were very stiff. His face was very pale and his body was extremely weak. He died of a heart problem on June 10 the same year.
Retaliation from Jiang's Followers
At present, the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Commission is meeting in Geneva. The deterioration of human rights in China, especially the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, has drawn world-wide attention. On March 22, the United States formally announced that it will bring up a motion condemning the human rights situation in China. The very next day, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will stop the Sino-US human rights dialogue immediately. At the same time, China is contacting many other countries, seeking support from them at the UN Human Rights Commission.
The investigation proposed by the WPA should be supported by all who care about the human rights situation in China. The letter sent from the CSP to Dr. Okasha was dated March 26, from which we can see it is yet another element of the retaliation of Jiang's group against the international community.
Jiang's Group Fears Being Exposed for Its Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners
Dr. Viviana Galli is a member of the WPA. When interviewed, she said, "As far as I know, the WPA once provided a list of at least 500 Falun Gong practitioners to China. The WPA requested to meet with some of these practitioners. Now it looks like the Chinese authorities are unwilling to honor the agreement they reached with the WPA."
Jiang and some of his accomplices have been sued in various countries for persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. If the WPA were able to carry out its investigation as planned, the investigation results undoubtedly would have become solid evidence that could be used in the lawsuits against Jiang and his accomplices.
While using the media to slander Falun Gong and torturing Falun Gong practitioners, Jiang's group tries its best to cover up and block the facts of the persecution, intending to deceive and mislead the international community. It is obvious that the CSP has been pressured by Jiang's followers to cancel the investigation by the WPA, so as to prevent the facts of the persecution from being exposed to the international community.
Despite the Jiang group's efforts to cover up the facts, its persecution of Falun Gong has already been exposed to the international community. Clearwisdom.net, one of Falun Gong practitioner's main websites, has broken through the information blockade and reported numerous persecution cases since 1999. Since 2000, various overseas media, including AP, AFP and Reuters have reported cases in which Falun Gong practitioners were sent to mental hospitals and drug rehabilitation centers. In its 300-page report, the WPA listed detailed cases illustrating the fact that Falun Gong practitioners were sent to mental hospitals. As a matter of fact, more and more people are coming to know the truth.
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Perspectives
