The national population and family planning agency on Monday said that an investigation has proven that reported population-control abuses by family planning officials in east Shandong Province are factual.

Yu Xuejun, National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC) spokesman, said the NPFPC and Shandong family planning agency had sent two joint teams to look into reported claims of forced abortions and sterilizations by local family planning officials in Shandong's Linyi City since early this year.

According to some media reports, population-control abuses such as forced abortion of farmers and detaining relatives of those who refuse to be sterilized were found to occur in Linyi city.

"Initial investigation indicates illegal family planning practices that violate people's legal rights and interests do exist," he said.

"Those who are responsible have been dismissed from duty. Some are under investigation, some in detention. Further measures will be taken by government departments concerned according to legal competence and procedure."

He said the NPFPC has required staff members to learn a lesson from the case and "correct any infringements on citizens' rights". The commission will also organize training programs on the "rule of law" and "quality of care" in reproductive health and family planning.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2005)