A Point Of View: What kind of superpower could China be?
China is on course to becoming a superpower - but not in the way many expect, writes economist Martin Jacques.
China's first aircraft carrier is a former Soviet vessel, the Varyag
They sent their appeal to mark 1,000 days since the disappearance of an anti-establishment cartoonist-cum-journalist, which remains unsolved.
There are still reports of kidnappings, or attempted kidnappings, every month, a BBC correspondent says.
The government and security forces deny abducting people.
Campaigners handed the UN a letter, also delivered to the Sri Lankan president, speaker and opposition leader, saying these men, along with Mr Ban, had the power to make progress in fighting disappearances.
They urged the government to prosecute those responsible and give information about people secretly detained.
The writers of the letter said they believed the victims were being held "somewhere on this island".
