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 Editorials | Issues | August 2007 
China Defends Death Penalty as Weapon in War on Graft
 Agence France-Presse
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| | A graphic on the death penalty worldwide, according to a report by Amnesty International. (AFP/Graphic) |
Beijing - China defended its use of the death penalty to punish corrupt officials, just weeks after the former head of the food and drug administration was executed for graft.
"China has so far kept the death penalty system, and the death penalty is applicable to serious economic crimes," said Gan Yisheng, spokesman of the Communist Party's discipline commission, one of the top graft-busting agencies.
"It proceeds from the national conditions and cultural background of China. It's nothing to be criticised," he told a briefing in Beijing.
Gan's remarks came a month after Zheng Xiaoyu, 62, was put to death for corrupt behaviour during his time as head of China's food and drug watchdog.
"The reason for Zheng Xiaoyu's death sentence was that he had taken a lot of bribes and had committed serious crimes," said Gan.
"His punishment has been endorsed by the Chinese people and also recognised by the international community."
China is frequently criticised abroad for its liberal use of the death penalty, which can also be imposed for a range of non-violent crimes.
"Different countries have different circumstances and have different cultural backgrounds and views on the death penalty and they have different legal traditions. I think it is very natural," said Gan.
Rights groups say China kills more of its citizens than any other nation, with some academics putting the annual toll at 10,000.
On its website, London-based rights group Amnesty International describes the country's legal system as one "which cannot and does not guarantee a fair trial under international law." |
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