The National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC) sent a team of legal experts and doctors to Linyi, Shandong Province, to investigate rising complaints from local farmers, who are claiming that they have suffered serious human rights violations.

"NPFPC and the Shandong Provincial Population and Family Planning Committee launched the investigation some time ago," Yu Xuejun, director of NPFPC's department of policy and legislation, said yesterday.

Yu was referring to a recent report by the Washington Post on human rights infringement when family planning policies were carried out in Linyi.

Earlier this year, complaints about family planning work in Linyi were on the rise. NPFPC and its Shandong committee have requested that Linyi consistently satisfies the requirements of the rule of law in its family planning work.

Yu said a thorough investigation takes the time to ensure that all parties concerned are treated in a fair and objective manner. Once the investigation is complete, any violations of law that are proven to be factual will be punished.

(China Daily September 9, 2005)