A/HRC/13/40/Add.1 detention on that account and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights”. 68. The Special Rapporteurs asked the Government to provide information on the basis upon which Mr. Palden Gyatso, Mr. Tsultrim, Mr. Sangpo, Mr. Jamyang Khedrub, Mr. Gendun, Mr. Shrab Sangpo Mr. Hu-lo and Mr. Yang-kyab have been sentenced to imprisonment and how that is compatible with the international norms and standards on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief. They also recalled that during the fourth session of the Universal Periodic Review in February 2009, the Government indicated that the recommendation of the Working Group to strengthen the protection of ethnic minorities’ religious, civil, socio-economic and political rights is “pertaining to measures already being implemented or which had already been implemented” (A/HRC/11/25, para. 115). In this regard, the Special Rapporteurs asked the Government to provide details regarding how such measures are strengthening the protection of the rights of persons in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in particular persons belonging to the monastic community. (b) Response from the Government dated 26 October 2009 69. On 26 October 2009, the Government of China replied to the joint urgent appeal of 2 September 2009. Since the Special Rapporteur had not received the response’s translation from the relevant services at the time this report was finalized, she is unfortunately not in a position to summarize in English the content of the Government’s response in the present report. However, a copy of the original response letter is available online at the following address: www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/docs/response261009china.pdf. (c) Observations by the Special Rapporteur 70. The Special Rapporteur is grateful that the Government of China replied to the joint urgent appeal of 2 September 2009 and hopes to be able to make observations on the response in the next report. 9. (a) Urgent appeal sent on 18 September 2009 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Allegations transmitted to the Government 71. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government information they had received regarding Mr. Li Feng and Mr. Yu Ming. On 4 October 2002, Mr. Li Feng was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Prison No. 4 in Shijiazhuang City, due to his involvement in broadcasting a television program about Falun Gong. Mr. Li was allegedly tortured in prison, which resulted in him suffering from seizures, high blood pressure, breathlessness, bowel and urinary disorders. He also lost consciousness several times. In January 2006, he was kept in the hospital for two days after he lost consciousness for 12 hours. His family was not allowed to visit him. Mr. Li is currently in critical condition. He suffers from lower limb oedema, dizziness and needs support to talk. He also suffers from constant vomiting. 72. According to additional information, on 3 March 2006, Mr. Yu Ming was sentenced to two and a half years of forced labour. He was detained at several centres and transferred to the Tuanhe Forced Labor Camp on 1 September 2006. Mr. Yu refused to renounce Falun Gong and held a hunger strike to protest his detention. As a result, he was tortured, forcefed and tied to a chair with ropes around his neck, chest, waist, hands and legs. A dozen inmates allegedly took turns torturing him. He remained tied to the chair from mid21