The United States issued a bleak portrayal of the human rights situation in China yesterday, warning that Beijing's record had 'deteriorated markedly' over the past year.
The State Department's annual report on international human rights included 110 pages on China, detailing strengthened crackdowns on a range of political, press and religious freedoms and 'particularly serious abuses' against minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang.
'The Government's poor human rights record deteriorated markedly throughout the year, as the Government intensified efforts to suppress dissent, particularly organised dissent,' the report said.
'The Government continued to commit widespread and well-documented human rights abuses, in violation of internationally accepted norms. The abuses stemmed from the authorities' extremely limited tolerance of public dissent aimed at the Government, fear of unrest and the limited scope . . . of laws protecting basic freedoms.' Specifically, the document noted intensified action - including beatings and jail sentences - against members of the Falun Gong movement and the fledgling China Democracy Party.
The report said tens of thousands of Falun Gong members had been detained and quoted 'some reports' that said the Government has started putting members in psychiatric hospitals.
By the end of the year almost all the key members of the China Democracy Party were in jail, either serving long prison terms or in custody without formal charges, the report said.
It also warned of increased 'control and manipulation' of the press, fresh restrictions on the Internet and continued violence against women - including forced abortions and sterilisation.
