Human rights experts see detention center

A group of foreign experts who were participating in the Beijing Forum on Human Rights visited a detention center in the capital on Thursday to observe some of the efforts China has taken to protect the rights of detainees, the chief manager of the country's detention centers said.

"The domestic detention centers have been open to the public for visits in recent years," said Zhao Chunguang, director of the prison administration bureau under the Ministry of Public Security. "It's a confident gesture. It shows that we have taken many steps to protect the human rights of people in detention."

Individuals and organizations who want to visit detention centers in Beijing need to submit applications through the official website of municipal public security bureau or through a phone call. Once applicants pass a review, they are allowed to visit.

"The relatives of the people in detention are not allowed to visit this way," said Cong Jian, head of the detention center in Dongcheng district, which the foreign human rights experts saw on Thursday.

He said foreigners can file applications to visit the center, but must go through the municipal bureau for foreign affairs.

Visitors can see the hospital, canteen, meeting rooms, sleeping rooms and other facilities.

There also are special police officers who can talk with visitors about their feelings.

The detainees in the Dongcheng center stay, in most cases, for half a year before being transferred to prison after the sentencing. In some cases, they may spend as little as a few days, Cong said.

Thursday's visit was first time that experts attending the annual forum on human rights were invited to visit detention centers. For many, it was their first visit to any detention center.

"It's well-organized," said Herneys Zoltan, Hungary's chief counselor and coordinator for human rights. He added that the visit gave him a better understanding.

His counterpart, Bela Bathori, said it's different from what he imagined.

"It looks not so depressing as I thought," he said. "The physical facilities seem organized."

It's the first time that the prison administration bureau has participated in the human rights forum.

"We can show the real picture of detention in China during the visit. It's a good way to promote understanding of our true situation," prisons director Zhao said.

He said many foreign experts and senior officials gave him positive feedback after the visit, applauding him for taking the initiative.