Chinese Prisoners

It is unfortunate that The Times has implied (“China to Release More Information on Jailed Dissidents,” Aug. 27) that China’s political dissidents receive humane treatment in prison, that the official information released to John Kamm is, in fact, accurate, and that Chinese videotapes and photographs are proof positive of prisoner well-being.

The Chinese first released photographs of allegedly healthy political prisoners in May. Those of Democracy Wall (1978-79) activist Wei Jingsheng; 1989 pro-democracy activist Wang Juntao, and student leader Liu Gang in no way discredit reports of the severe mental and physical effects of their prison regimes. Wei has spent 13 years in solitary confinement, Liu has been repeatedly tortured and Wang’s life-threatening illness went untreated prior to an international outcry.

Now we are asked to believe a new report, complete with photo, that Xu Wenli, another Democracy Wall activist, serving a 15-year sentence for his political writing, wins badminton contests. Asia Watch has information less than one month old from sources close to Xu that he is in very poor health. A persistent urinary tract infection has gone untreated; he cannot control his bladder. His teeth are missing; he can barely speak and he may have lymphatic tuberculosis. No edited videotape of him can possibly document these problems nor will it expose the years in solitary confinement, the malnutrition, the uncontrollable tears.

As for Ren Wanding, a writer and founder of the first human rights organization in China who is serving a seven-year sentence for his views, no videotape can show the extent of his eye problems. Ren may have already lost the sight in one eye from retinal damage. He also has cataracts and stands to go blind if he is not immediately and accurately diagnosed and operated on. Medical alerts for Ren have been issued by both Asia Watch and Amnesty International.

And lastly, new information released by Asia Watch on Sept. 1, graphically details the “humane” treatment of political dissidents--electric shock, beatings, solitary confinement, 14-hour workdays--in one labor reform camp.

If the Chinese government is sincere about ensuring that its prison conditions meet the United Nations’ Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and is not simply scoring public relations points, it should permit regular prison visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Better still, China should release prisoners held solely for exercising their fundamental human rights of free expression and assembly.

MICKEY SPIEGEL

Research Consultant

Asia Watch, New York