By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – About two-thirds of all transplant organs in China are provided by executed prisoners.  However, this will soon change as the Chinese government is launching a voluntary organ donor program so as to stop harvesting organs from black market sellers and executed prisoners. 

In China, at least one million people are in need of organ transplants annually, but only about 10,000 actually receive organ transplants.   Such scarcity of available organs has led to corruption and a thriving black market for trafficked organs despite the fact that Chinese officials passed a law in 2007 banning organ trafficking. 

By creating an organ donation system, Vice Minister of Health Hugan Jiefu hopes that such program “will benefit patients regardless of social status and wealth.”

Furthermore, human rights groups have criticized the lack of transparency in China’s organ donation program and have been extremely concerned with the use of body parts from executed prisoners.  A Chinese newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported that more than 65% of organ donations came from executed prisoners. 

China executes the most number of prisoners than any other nation (Source: AFP)

Nicholas Bequelin at Human Rights Watch said, “If you’re a prisoner and you’re about to be executed, you do not have a real choice, especially in a system…(that) is completely untransparent and notorious for abuses against prisoners, as the Chinese system is.”

Minister Huang has stated that prisoners were “definitely not a proper source for organ transplants.”  Therefore, the new organ donation scheme is to reduce reliance of organ donation from death row prisoners and to combat the illegal trafficking of organs.

This new organ donation program will initially start pilot programs in ten provinces and cities where financial aid will be provided to donors’ families before being instituted nationwide.  Since 2003, only 130 people in mainland China have signed up to become organ donors
 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – China launches organ donor scheme – 27 August 2009

BBC – China admits death row organ use – 26 August 2009

NYT – China Announces a System for Voluntary Organ Donors – 26 August 2009

USA Today – China sets up national organ bank to reduce dependence on prison donors – 27 August 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia– Caning of a Malaysian model and mother of two, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, who would have been the first women in Southeast Asia to be caned for drinking beer in public, has been delayed.  Malaysia’s Islamic court postponed the caning until after Ramadan saying that the punishment was too harsh.

Kartika was arrested by Islamic morality police in December 2007 for drinking beer at a beach resort.  60% of Malaysia’s population of 27 million are Muslims, and they are prohibited from drinking alcohol.  If found guilty of violating this Islamic law, such offense is punishable by up to three years in prison and caning. 

Malaysia also has a dual-track justice system where Islamic courts operate alongside civil courts.  Malays are subject to Islamic laws while Chinese and Indian minorities are not.  Further, caning is used as a supplementary punishment for about 40 crimes in Malaysia, but caning is not a punishment for drinking alcohol in public in Malaysia’s civil courts.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno (Source: AFP)

Had the sentence been carried out, Kartika would have received six strokes with a rattan cane in addition to a $1,400 fine.

This case and Kartika’s plight has drawn widespread international attention regarding the use of Islamic laws in addition to raising questions as to whether radical Islam was starting to grow in a traditionally moderate Muslim country.

However, Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil of Women, Family and Community Development, who was once concerned that Kartika’s sentence “projected a ‘cruel image’ of Malaysia,” said, “I am impressed with, and commend, the chief judge’s wisdom for making the order of revision.” 

Malaysia’s prime minister is urging Kartika to appeal since she is unique in that she has chosen to go through with her sentence.  However, she has told reporters that she will not file an appeal.  Her family is refusing to comment. 
 

For more information, please see:

AP – Malaysian court puts caning of woman on hold – 25 August 2009

BBC – Malaysia to review caning woman – 25 August 2009

CNN – Malaysia postpones woman’s caning – 25 August 2009

By Michael E Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Manipur, India–  Another allegation of police violence has arisen after the family members of an NGO activist accused the police of third violent treatment.

Jiten Yumnam, an activist of the All Manipur United Clubs Organization (AMUCO) and a member of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN) were arrested by the Manipur Police at the Imphal Airport on Monday.  Yumnam was on his way to a United Nations meeting on climate change being held in Bangkok when state police charged him with supporting and aiding insurgency in the northeastern region.  Kiran Mala, his wife said “We don’t even know why he has been arrested.”

NGO members and family member of Yumnam allege that the police inflicted third degree torture on Yumnam by subjecting him to electric shocks to his private parts, which left him impaired.  These allegations of torture have been denied by the police. Superintendent of police of West Imphal L. Keilun has denied the allegation, stating “There is no evidence of such an attack.  If there is proof then strict action will be taken.  But I don’t think that the police can do such things.”

This however is not an isolated event where the police have overstepped their boundaries, in July police shot and killed a young man, Chungkham Sanjit and a pregnant passer-by Rubina Devi.  Police claimed that Sanjit was killed in a genuine encounter and Devi was killed by Sanjit.  Photos of the encounter published by a Dehli based magazine show that Sanjit was dragged inside a pharmacy and killed in cold blood.  Dr. Sukendu Debbarma, Convener in a press note stated that the Manipur government, has tried to subdue voices of protest against the killing of Sanjit instead of acting against its Commandos quickly and decisively.

The North East People’s Initiatives has condemned the arrest of Yumnam, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.  They have also demanded an “immediate disbanding” of the Manipur Police Commandos, stating they “have been given impunity in all crimes they have committed against the people of Manipur.” 

For information, please see:

Times Now- Manipur protests over ‘fake encounter’– 4 August 2009

The Morung Express- Demand for unconditional release of Jiten Yumnam– 19 September 2009

Asian New International- Another Allegation of police torture surfaces in Manipur-20 September 2009

Times Now- Another police brutality in Imphal– 20 Septmeber 2009

 

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TOKYO, Japan– The United Nations has reported that the world’s second largest economy, Japan, is ranked 54th in terms of gender equality.

UN’s Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is urging Japan to take stronger remedial measures to eliminate gender inequality, because the country’s efforts thus far have been “insufficient.”

The Committee reported that Japan has failed to address problems affecting women identified in a 2003 report and also listed provisions in Japan’s Civil Code concerning unequal treatment towards women in the labor market.  The report also criticized the low representation of Japanese women in high-level elected offices.

UN urges Japan to do more to eliminate gender bias (Source: AP)

The UN is recommending that Japan raise the legal age for marriage for women from 16 to 18 in line with men, abolish the six-month waiting period before remarriage required for women but not for men, and allow a choice of surnames for married couples.  Furthermore, the Committee advised that Japan repeal laws that discriminate against children born out of wedlock and to impose harsher punishment for rape.

The report also reminded Japan that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which Japan is a party, is binding.  The Committee’s report said Japan should recognize the Convention as “the most pertinent, broad and legally binding international instrument in the sphere of the elimination against women.”

Fortunately, Japan’s Cabinet has acknowledged that change is needed.  In the general election coming up next week, issues that were traditionally categorized as “women’s affairs” have become mainstream election issues. 

Ikuko Tanioka, the president of Chukyo Women’s University, said, “Parliament can no longer be run according to the armchair logic of old men.”  A professor at Japan Women’s University, Machiko Osawa, also added, “So much needs to change…[w]e need equal pay for equal work, pension reform, daycare reform and infinitely better support for working mothers…the underlying problem for Japan is still one of attitude.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Japanese women ‘still not equal’ – 21 August 2009

The Japan Times – Do more to ban gender bias, U.N. panel urges – 21 August 2009

Times Online – ‘We don’t count the women’ – gender inequality in Japanese companies – 8 August 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China– Pu Liang, a 14-year old, is in critical condition after being repeatedly beaten at a boot camp in southwest China for Internet addicts.  This comes less than three weeks after a 15-year old was beaten to death at another military-like camp.

Pu is reported to be suffering from kidney failure, which resulted from repeated beatings at the camp where he was being held in solitary confinement.  The boy’s father was quoted in a Chinese newspaper saying, “My son was severely injured after he was beaten three times by the counselor and other students.  All injuries were done by people in the camp.”

The family had paid the camp where Pu was being held 5,000 yuan, which is approximately $730, to treat Pu’s online computer game addiction.  Children at these camps go through rigorous physical exercises and are taught to appreciate other pastimes. 

Wu Yongjing, the man who set up the camp, said, “Physical punishment is an effective way to educate children.”  He further admitted that children are sometimes beaten at his camp.  The camp has been closed and the principal has been arrested.

Internet users in China (Source: BBC)

China has the most Internet users in the world, totaling almost 300 million, and many parents place their children in boot camps to treat their Internet “addiction.”  However, the treatment for Internet addiction remains controversial in China because the rules pertaining to this area are not uniform. 

An expert on Internet addiction at Beijing’s Military General Hospital, Tao Ran, said while “only hospitals and doctors with proper qualifications should provide treatment,” parents send their children to these military-like camps, which are not run by qualified professionals.  Tao added, “Internet addiction is treatable…80[%] of the patients can get away from the addiction.”

China’s Minister of Health has no plans to register or monitor these boot camps.  However, the Chinese officials did ban electro-shock therapy to treat Internet addiction after abuses were reported at Internet addiction camps.

For more information, please see:

AFP – New China web addict attack: state media – 19 August 2009

BBC – China web addict ‘beaten’ at camp – 19 August 2009

CNN – China probe of abuse at Web addiction camp – 19 August 2009