China denies putting dissidents in mental hospitals
China today denied imprisoning dissidents in mental hospitals, but did not say whether it would grant a demand by the world’s leading psychiatric association to inspect them.
Claims that hundreds of political opponents have been kept in hospital “have absolutely no basis in fact and are extremely irresponsible,” China’s Foreign Ministry said.
It said the country’s mental hospitals were subject to strict management and had rigorous admissions procedures.
The statement made no mention of yesterday’s vote by the World Psychiatric Association to send a mission to investigate accusations of Chinese mental hospital abuses.
The association - which represents professional groups from 105 nations - said it wants to inspect hospitals by May, after working out guidelines with Chinese authorities.
China could be expelled from the group if it refuses. Beijing has rejected similar missions in the past.
China’s Health Ministry said it had no information on possible inspections and said its top officials were away on business and unavailable to comment.
“I am not clear on this issue,” said a spokeswoman for the ministry’s International Cooperation Department.
China is accused of using mental wards to detain nearly 500 members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement.
The Foreign Ministry denied that, saying Falun Gong members have only been committed at their own families’ request.
Doctors have accepted them only after finding signs of mental illness, it said. The statement used the standard official term for belief in the group’s teachings - “chimi,” which means a psychologically unhealthy obsession.
Labour activists have also reportedly been among those held in mental wards.
In some cases, individuals without mental problems have allegedly been forced to take psychiatric drugs and given electroshock treatment.
The psychiatric association’s decision came during the World Congress of Psychiatry, being held this week in Yokohama, Japan.
Its president, Juan Lopez-Ibor, said inspectors must have freedom to inspect wherever, whomever and whenever they want.
Lopez-Ibor said he discussed the possibility of an investigation with Chinese Deputy Minister of Health Ma Xiaowei in February.
