A/HRC/4/21/Add.1 page 25 Chinese Government departments concerned complied strictly with their treaty obligations and acted within national law. There was no ill-treatment or use of torture. Observations 87. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the Government’s reply. She would like to make reference to her predecessor’s conclusions after his country visit to China from 19 to 30 November 1994 (E/CN.4/1995/91, para. 189): “The Special Rapporteur considers that there must be no interference with religious activity falling within the scope of the 1981 Declaration. At all events, there must not be any surveillance of a kind to infringe the right to freedom of belief and to manifest one’s belief. With regard to sects, the Special Rapporteur particularly wishes to point out that the 1981 Declaration protects not only religion, but also theist beliefs and that article 1, paragraph 3, of that Declaration states that freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.” 88. The Special Rapporteur continues to be very concerned by the continued violations of freedom of religion or belief suffered by members of the Falun Gong. In her previous reports to the Commission on Human Rights, she explicitly mentioned members of the Falun Gong as targets of various human rights violations because of their beliefs and she strongly condemns the continued lack of freedom of belief of members of Falun Gong (see E/CN.4/2005/61, paras. 3738 and E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.1, para. 109). 89. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Government for the invitation it has extended in 2004 for a follow-up visit and she hopes to receive a reply from the Government further to her last letter of September 2006 requesting dates for this visit. Urgent appeal sent on 6 December 2005 jointly with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture 90. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government of the People’s Republic of China information they had received regarding five Buddhist monks from Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. Their names are Ngawang Namdrol of Tsotod Township, Phenpo Lhundrup County, Lhasa Municipality; Ngawang Nyingpo of Khartse Township, Phenpo Lhundrup Country, Lhasa Municipality; Ngawang Thupen a.k.a. Shogbu Metok of Lhasa Inner City, Lhasa Municipality; Khenpo Ngawang Phelgyal of Rinpung County, Shigatse Prefecture and Phuntsok Thupwang of Gongkar County, Lhoka Prefecture. According to the allegations received, on 23 November 2005, the five monks were arrested following a patriotic re-education ceremony that had been taking place at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa since October 2005. They were handed over to the Public Security Bureau of their respective places of origin after they refused to sign a statement denouncing the Dalai Lama and recognizing Tibet as a part of China. They are currently being held in Public Security Bureau places of detention. There are concerns that they may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment. 91. On 25 November 2005, approximately 400 monks held a silent sit-down protest in the monastery courtyard. There is concern that members of the army and officers from the People’s