China puts off torture inspections

[dArKeR]

ABUSES: Beijing has put yet another roadblock in the way of planned UN inspections that would investigate reports that torture is routine in China

AP , SHANGHAI
Friday, Jun 18, 2004,Page 5

China has postponed a visit by the UN special investigator on torture, saying it needs more time to prepare, an official said yesterday.

Theo van Boven had planned to visit later this month to investigate reports of abuses in Chinese jails, but the visit has been put off until later this year, van Boven said in a statement.

Rights groups say Chinese police and security services commonly use torture as punishment and to obtain confessions or information. China routinely denies the charges.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/06/18/2003175530

[orthogonal]

1. It's the American Way!

Rights groups say Chinese police and security services commonly use torture as punishment and to obtain confessions or information.

I'm glad to see the Chinese are coming around to emulating the American Way!

I mean, I'm sure the Chinese consider those being tortured to be "terr'ists" or dissidents or something.

[riverwalker]

2. "concessions" for US war crime "exemption" in ICC?

"The Bush administration, for the third year, is seeking to renew a Security Council resolution that would exempt from the court's prosecution military and civilian personnel "related to a UN-authorized operation" such as that in Iraq"
"Crucial is whether China, which has criticized the resolution, casts an abstention. Diplomats say Beijing is seeking some concessions from Washington on Taiwan, although China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, denies this."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=721&e=5&u=/nm/20040617/wl_nm/un_court_usa_dc