The Lao Gai are the largest gulags of our times, providing the slave labour helping to propel China’s economy. Rare images smuggled out reveal the brutal conditions inside the camps.
A woman’s bloody face stares out from a hospital bed. Gao Rongrong was allegedly electrocuted for over seven hours. She broke her leg jumping out of a window escaping but was re-arrested and died in custody. Her torturers once worked for prison director Han Guansheng. Having defected, he now testifies about conditions inside the camps. “Detainees were tortured and ill treated. They were electrocuted with 15,000 volt batons. Many died.” At least a quarter of a million people are incarcerated in the Lao Gai. Most are held in ‘administrative detention’, having not been convicted of any crimes. “In the last 50 years, more than 50 million people were sent to prison camps and probably 50% of them vanished,” states former prisoner and expert Harry Wu. Inmates work 16 hour days in appalling conditions. Smuggled footage shows emaciated figures operating heavy machinery. This pool of free labour has played a key role in China’s economic development. But it’s come at a heavy human cost. (SBS)
SBS
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Iraq - Beneath the Hood
- 90 min 00 sec [3 November 2005]
In this extensive and shocking interview, the man who claims to be the hooded man in the Abu Ghraib pictures speaks out. He alleges he was repeatedly electrocuted and tortured by American soldiers.
It's the photo that shocked the world. A hooded prisoner stands on a box with electrodes attached to his hands. If he falls off, he's told he'll be electrocuted. When the Abu Ghraib scandal first broke, America tried to damped criticism by claiming the electrodes were not real. But now, in this
extensive and shocking interview, the man who claims to be the victim in the pictures speaks out. He alleges he was repeatedly electrocuted and tortured by American soldiers.
Haj Ali was a former mayor of an Abu Ghraib suburb. Then he was arrested. 'After 15 days in Abu Ghraib, they led me to a solitary cell, and my martyrdom began' he states. 'They told me to undress and they beat me. Then I felt a pistol on my head and they screamed at me in English and in Arabic'
'Later I had to step on to a heavy wooden box. They said "If you will not tell the truth now, we will chase electric-shocks through your body. And if you fall from the box, we will chase even more electric-shocks through you!" Five times they repeated it, five times I kept falling from the box, five
times they put me up again. It was so painful, I bit into my tongue. I was bleeding from my tongue and I was in terrible pain.'
Tuschla
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New Zealand - Sanctuary
- 14 min 35 sec [31 October 2005]
The threat of further terrorist attacks is fuelling a wave of emigration to New Zealand. Frightened Americans regard it as the perfect place to get away.
“Many people look at New Zealand and see a haven of tranquillity in a troubled world,” states Prime Minister Helen Clark. It’s become a sanctuary for wealthy Americans seeking the ultimate life change. Since 9/11 property values have shot up 70%. Irritated locals now find themselves priced out of the market. And if the survivalists weren’t enough, the country is also being assailed by a more perplexing band of invaders: Lord of the Rings fans. New Zealand has always offered beautiful scenery and splendid isolation but for the first time in its history, the tyranny of distance is working in its favour.
ABC Australia
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Israel/Palestine - Caterpillar Bulldozer
- 8 min 23 sec [31 October 2005]
Caterpillar bulldozers have come to symbolise foreign involvement in Israel’s occupation. But should the company be held liable if their products are used to break international law?
Bulldozers are the iron fist of the Israeli army, used to destroy Palestinian homes, uproot orchards and build illegal settlements. But it was the death of Rachel Corrie that brought to international attention a campaign to hold the company to account. Now a law suit has been launched accusing Caterpillar of human rights violations. (Inigo Gilmore)
Inigo Gilmore
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South Africa - Alexandra Scrapyard
- 25 min 00 sec [31 October 2005]
Residents of the Alexandra township in Johannesburg are dismayed by the failure of a restoration project. Four years on, they claim conditions have only got worse.
“People are angry,” complains resident Ellen Chauke. The iconic township is only a few km from one of the richest areas in South Africa, but it’s one of the most impoverished districts. In 2001, a renewal project was begun to upgrade the area. But unhealthy living conditions still prevail and people are starting to give up hope that things will ever improve.
SABC
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