E/CN.4/2005/61/Add.1 Page 15 54. By letter dated 24 November 2004, the Government responded that the problems and the contradictions between the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the so-called “Alternative Synod” which has lead to the situation referred to are, to a large degree, economically oriented, and are not linked to the right to freedom of religion. The Government indicated that in the specific case of 21 July 2004 the issue was about property disputes (concerning rents, candle sales, income from charges for religious ceremonies, etc.), a question within the sole jurisdiction of the court. The discussions and the efforts to resolve the problems through dialogue and by mutual consent lasted for more than 18 months. In the beginning of July 2004, following the assessment that all means had been exhausted, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church officially approached the Prosecutor’s Office—which is a constituent part of the independent judiciary in Bulgaria—and requested assistance for the implementation of the law. The measures undertaken by the police were consistent with the provisions of the Confessions Act, and were carried out under the instruction of the prosecution, in accordance with provisions of the Judicial Authority Act (art. 118, para. 2). The Government finally stressed that the existing disputes would be settled in the court in strict observance of the legislation in force, in respect of the principles of the rule of law and equality before the law. China Communications and replies received 55. On 14 June 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a communication to the Government of China in connection with information received according to which, since 20 July 1999, when the Chinese Government banned Falun Gong, over 1,600 practitioners of Falun Gong had been tortured or beaten, several hundred had been given prison sentences of over 20 years, others had been interned in mental hospitals and a high number of practitioners had been sent to labour camps without trial. An unspecified number of practitioners were allegedly being held without trial. It was also reported that at least 907 practitioners had died while in detention. 56. Reports indicated that the campaign against the Falun Gong continued unabated across China. According to information received, practitioners of Falun Gong continued to be subject to ill-treatment and torture by State officials in their attempts to force the practitioners to renounce their belief in Falun Gong. It was also reported that individual practitioners who had been subjected to torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment whilst detained had not been provided appropriate and effective remedies. In particular, the system of administrative detention, reeducation through labour (RTL), reportedly continued to be imposed on Falun Gong practitioners. It was reported that RTL involves detention without charge or trial, and without judicial review, for between one and three years – which can be further extended by one year. People receiving terms of RTL allegedly have no right of access to a lawyer and there is no hearing for them to defend themselves. 57. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur drew the attention of the Government to the following individual cases: