Jan. 17
CHINA:
Complete abolishment of death penalty still hard in today's China
The reform of the punishment system is the key task for China at present.
Through introducing lengthy terms of imprisonment that is longer than 20
years or 30 years, China will gradually reduce application of death
penalty, said Zhang Jun, China's vice Minister of Justice and vice
president of the China Law Society at a forum on "criminal law and
protection of human rights" held on Jan 16.
It is hard to abolish the death penalty in practice for the time being in
China. The criminal laws should take unity of crackdown on crime and
protection of human rights into consideration. One practical means is to
reform the punishment system by adding lengthy terms of imprisonment that
is longer than 20 or 30 years. According to statistics released by the
Ministry of Justice, many criminals who are sentenced life imprisonment
for violent crimes actually stay in prisons for just 15 to 16 years. He
suggested that those who are sentenced life imprisonment should be kept in
prison for at least 25 years. In this way, the criminal's desire to commit
crimes will vanish as they are freed at about 55 years old.
After the lengthy term of imprisonment is adopted, the courts will
naturally reduce application of death penalty. The legislative organs will
gradually take reduction of crimes punishable by death into consideration
in the future, said Zhang.
(source: People's Daily Online)
THAILAND:
Death Row Prisoners Last Moments Live on the Net
Thailand is to start live internet broadcasts of life behind prison walls
- including convicts last moments before execution - in a bid to deter
lawbreaking, especially a burgeoning number of drug dealers.
Though no date has been fixed to begin the broadcasts, cameras have
already been installed at Bangkwang maximum security prison on the
outskirts of Bangkok, which houses more than 6,000 inmates. Nearly 1,000
are sentenced to death, and 65 are awaiting execution with no appeals
pending.
"From now on people can see life in prison through the Internet,- said
Corrections Department chief Nathee Chitsawang.
The broadcasts will show the inmates daily lives, as well as the last
minutes of condemned men as they are being taken from their cells to
execution, he said.
"The Internet will show how we treat the convicts in their last minutes,
including the preparation process, but at the time of execution, the
viewer will be allowed to see only part of the process," Nathee said.
Thailand executes drug traffickers. The purpose of the broadcasts was to
make viewers, especially those tempted to deal in drugs, aware of the
future they could face, he said. It will also show how his department
carries out its work.
(source: The Scotsman)
EUROPEAN UNION/CHINA:
EU urges China to revioke Buddhist Lama's death sentence
The European Parliament (EP) adopted resolution on the weekend asking the
Chinese authorities to immediately change the death sentence against the
Tibetan Buddhist Lama, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. Having being found guilty of
separatist activities he was sentenced to death, but then the sentence was
deferred for 2 years. His execution is now scheduled for later this month.
The EP has urged China to commute the death sentence and impose a
moratorium on capital punishment and move towards abolishing the death
penalty.
An INEP news service report from Brussles said although representatives of
the Dalai Lama have met with the Chinese in this regard 3 times since
2002, the EP believes not enough progress is being made. The Parliament
feels the issue calls for "ongoing dialogue." These negotiations should
reach a "mutually acceptable solution" without further delay, said the EP
in its foreign policy resolution.
The execution of Rinpoche would send a "very negative signal and would
have an adverse impact on relations with China" said a representative of
the EUs executive, Commissioner Janez Potocnik.
Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche and a colleague Lobsang Dhondup were found guilty of
bombings and incitement to separatism by the Intermediate Peoples Court in
Sichuan Province in 2002. Rinpoches sentence was suspended for 2 years but
Dhondup was executed in January 2003.
(source: Hindustan Times)
MALAYSIA:
Codeine peddling fishmonger could face death penalty
A 34-year-old fishmonger caught peddling pure codeine to suspected addicts
at his house at Kilometre 6, Jalan Temerloh-Maran on Friday could face the
death penalty for drug trafficking if convicted.
Police seized 12 plastic bottles of pure codeine, the main ingredient of
cough mixture, and arrested 12 suspected addicts during the raid at his
house.
The 45 litres of codeine seized was enough for 500 to 600 addicts.
The suspected addicts, aged between 24 and 35, were nabbed while waiting
for their supply.
Acting district police chief Superintendent Zahruddin Abdullah said the
4pm raid followed a tip-off.
10 bottles of codeine were found in the boot of a Proton Saga parked near
the house, while 2 were in the house.
(source: New Straits Times)
