would seem to be a matter of urgency for the Sub-Commission to spare some time for a debate on the thematic question of the inhuman treatment meted out to persons taken as hostages, or forcibly retained against their will by any State or surrogate terrorist body under the control of a State. It was not the time, either for half-measures or compromise resolutions. 33. It had been salutary to read in the International Herald Tribune of 5 April 1990, that the Libyan President himself had stated that Muslims should adhere to the noble Islamic values which affirmed the honour and humanity of man and the non-taking of innocent hostages. The President was now, as he had declared recently, resolutely against all hostage-taking, especially that by President Saddam Hussein. 34. Ms. CHEN (International League for Human Rights) said that during the past year her organization had documented a chilling cycle of repression in China, in particular the severe maltreatment and torture of detainees, the lack of fair trials and judicial safeguards, and the continued use of administrative detention in "reform through labour" camps. During the current year, two former Chinese police officials had provided detailed testimony confirming that practices in detention centres totally disregarded legal rules and procedures. 35. Democracy movement activists and scholars were included in "most wanted" lists, which was one way to "precondemn" individuals. China's emphasis on obtaining confessions from detainees and the practice of "verdict first, trial later" bore testimony to the fact that detainees were indeed "precondemned". 36. The International League for Human Rights had prepared a report entitled Torture in China on the lack of procedural safeguards to protect detainees as well as on the tortures such as beatings, electric shock, shackling with handcuffs in painful positions, etc. to which they were commonly subjected. 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report or statement discussing human rights violations, specifically torture and hostage-taking, in various countries, including China and Libya. It mentions the lack of procedural safeguards, mistreatment of detainees, and the use of administrative detention. The tone is critical and calls for action, suggesting a focus on human rights and humanitarian issues.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Human rights