Authorities reject report on torture at women's labour camp in Liaoning

Liaoning authorities have lashed back at a news report alleging torture at a women's labour camp, calling the piece phony and containing “malicious attack rhetoric” characteristic of the outlawed Falun Gong group.

The inquiry was triggered by a report, first published by Lens magazine two weeks ago, giving a rare glimpse inside the Masanjia women's labour camp in Liaoning. Headlined Walking Out of Masanjia, the lengthy report accused officers of torturing and using other inhumane methods on dozens of prisoners. The claims were based on accounts of provincial procurators, former camp officials and former and current prisoners.

Many claims appeared to echo those of Falun Gong. Labelled a “cult” by the Chinese government, the Falun Gong has long accused the government of imprisoning and torturing hundreds of its practitioners in the same labour camp.

Liaoning hit back, saying its investigation found that allegations of corporal punishment were “malicious fabrications”. Some prisoners were treated with measures that were “absolutely righteous", said the investigation, which also acknowledged that inmates were restrained only when they broke prison rules or went on hunger strikes.

Medical examinations also ruled out an inmate’s claim in the Lens article that she was forced to do intense labour even though she was heavily pregnant and close to her expected due date, the investigation said. The panel found the woman was not pregnant at all.

The investigation team also found prisoners’ meal rations, medical treatment, working hours and stipends were all in line with guidelines from the Ministry of Justice, Xinhua said.