Sept. 30
CHINA:
Fears for Yang Hengjun's health amid reports he is being shackled in Chinese
detention
There are fears Australian writer Yang Hengjun is being shackled with chains to
his legs and hands during interrogations at a Beijing detention centre.
A family friend has raised concerns over the detention conditions faced by
Australian citizen Yang Hengjun in Beijing amid reports the writer is being
shackled during interrogations.
The 53-year-old Australian citizen has been accused by Chinese authorities of
spying since being detained after landing at Guangzhou airport with his family
in January.
Now a family friend of Dr Yang has shed light on his detention conditions
telling the Australian he “wears chains” and is being “tied to a chair” during
questioning.
“His health condition is not good as a result of seven months of solitude from
being under house arrest without access to any other people but interrogators,”
the friend said.
“He suffers from weakened memory, blood pressure and kidney issues. But he has
not collapsed and continues to insist his innocence.”
It comes after The Guardian revealed multiple sources describing the same
account of Mr Yang’s conditions inside the ministry of state security detention
centre.
Investigators have reportedly told Mr Hung he is being chained because of the
gravity of his alleged crimes and that he could face the death penalty.
His interrogations are reportedly lasting up to four hours at a time.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has previously described the conditions faced by
Dr Yang as “harsh” raising concerns over a failure to provide him access to
lawyers or family visits.
“We have serious concerns for Dr Yang’s welfare, and about the conditions under
which he is being held,” Ms Payne said last month.
Chinese officials have said national security concerns are behind not providing
the writer to access to his legal team.
But Australian consular officials have still been permitted to make half-hour
visits to Dr Yang once a month.
In his account of Dr Yang’s detention, the family friend provides an insight
into the conditions faced by the Australian writer.
The friend said Dr Yang is not being held in solitary confinement.
“He doesn’t have to live in total loneliness. He is allowed to walk out of the
cell twice a day in the morning and the afternoon, each time for 45 minutes,”
he told the Australian.
“Police keep asking him the same questions as … before he was transferred to
the detention centre."
“The interrogations have been reduced from every day when he was under house
arrest to once a week, which indicates the police have found no breakthrough in
evidence."
The Guardian has reported he is able to drink water and purchase additional
food supplies including “fruit, biscuits, and chocolate.”
He had initially been held under “residential surveillance” before being placed
in detention in July and was formally charged on 23 August.
Prior to this, Dr Yang ran a popular blog, had written a series of spy novels
and had long pushed for democratic reforms in China.
He was once a diplomat for China’s ministry of foreign affairs before moving to
Australia and becoming an Australian citizen in 2002.
Since then he had spent time in the United States as a visiting scholar at
Columbia University.
China has previously defended its detention of Dr Yang and spoken out against
Australia’s criticisms.
"China deplores the Australian statement on this case," Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press conference in August.
"Australia should respect China's judicial sovereignty and not interfere in any
way in China's lawful handling of the case."
(source: sbs.com.au)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
Govt team to get views on death penalty
A government team will consult further with the people regarding the law on the
death penalty, in particular the method of execution to be used, Justice
Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven says.
Steven told The National that Justice Secretary Dr Eric Kwa would lead the
team.
He also said 12 people were currently on death row.
“I’ve been working on the death penalty submission mainly because it’s my duty
as the attorney-general to reflect the position of the law, especially in this
case where the courts have already imposed the penalty,” he said.
“I have gone to NEC to approve the method of execution (so) that the
implementing agency can implement the court decisions.”
The 5 methods recommended by officials tasked to advise the Government are
hanging, electrocution (electric chair), lethal injection, beheading and
shooting.
Steven said Cabinet wanted to move on the issue given the social and community
interest in the subject and the history of the law inherited and maintained
since independence.
“Given the international concern on the subject, whether the death penalty is a
deterrent or not, the NEC directed my department to take the matter to the
community for broader public consultation on the question of whether the death
penalty should be allowed as part of criminal law and available under the
criminal justice system.
“That should allay some concerns especially those expressed by our
international bilateral partners, including the United Nations, European Union,
Australia and others.”
(source: thenational.com.pg)
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