China: Torture of human rights defender Liu Jie while undergoing re-education through labour

Your Excellency

I am deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender Liu Jie has been tortured during her re-education through labour (RTL). Liu Jie is a defender of human rights in rural communities who has campaigned for political and legal reforms in China.

On 22 May 2008, Liu Jie was transferred from Qiqihar RTL camp to Harbin Drug Rehabilitation Centre where she has reportedly been tortured. The form of torture performed on Liu Jie is known as the “Tiger Bench”. She has been forced to sit upright on a long bench with her hands tied behind her back, her thighs tied to the bench, and her feet raised off the floor by bricks under her feet. This exerts extreme strain on her knees and causes great pain. Liu Jie was allegedly subjected to this form of torture for 5 consecutive days.

Liu Jie was transferred to the rehabilitation centre after protesting about the conditions under which she and other detainees were kept in Qiqihar RTL camp. There they are said to have worked for fourteen hours per day to make crafts with poisonous chemical dye which stained their hands. Torture in the rehabilitation centre was allegedly carried out to instill discipline in new detainees. On 12 November 2007, Liu Jie was originally sent to the RTL camp for “instigating trouble” and “disturbing social order” after having organised a public letter signed by 12,150 petitioners in favour of political and legal reforms in China.

I believe that Liu Jie has been targeted as a result of her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular her work to defend the rights of rural communities in China. I am concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Liu Jie.

I call on the authorities in China to:

1.Immediately and unconditionally release Liu Jie, as I believe that she is being held solely as a result of her legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;

2.Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the detention of Liu Jie and the accusations that she has been tortured with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

3.Ensure that the treatment of Liu Jie, while in detention, adheres to all those conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990’;

4.Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological security and integrity of Liu Jie;

5.Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in China are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

Yours sincerely