This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/07/china-reform-labour-camps

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
China to reform forced labour camps, say state media China to reform forced labour camps, say state media
(about 2 hours later)
China is to reform its controversial system of forced labour camps this year, state media has reported, which would mark a first step toward legal reform promised by new Communist party chief Xi Jinping. China is to reform its controversial system of forced labour camps this year, the state media have reported, which would mark a first step toward legal reform promised by the new Communist party chief, Xi Jinping.
China's "re-education through labour" system, in place since 1957, empowers police to sentence petty criminals to up to four years' confinement without going through the courts, a system critics say undermines the rule of law and is used against political activists. China's "re-education through labour" system, in place since 1957, allows police to sentence petty criminals to up to four years' confinement without involving the courts, a system critics say undermines the rule of law and is used against political activists.
The announcement by state news agency Xinhua contradicted earlier media reports that cited domestic security head Meng Jianzhu as saying China would scrap the system. Those reports were removed from media websites without an explanation. The announcement by the state news agency Xinhua contradicted earlier reports citing the head of domestic security, Meng Jianzhu, as saying China would scrap the system. Those reports were removed from media websites without explanation.
"The Chinese government will this year push the reform of its controversial re-education through labour system, according to a national political and legal work conference on Monday," Xinhua reported."The Chinese government will this year push the reform of its controversial re-education through labour system, according to a national political and legal work conference on Monday," Xinhua reported.
State broadcaster CCTV had said earlier on its microblog site, citing the party's newly appointed head of its political and legal affairs committee, Meng, as saying: "Use of the re-education through labour system will end this year, after approval from the standing committee of the National People's Congress." Earlier, the state broadcaster CCTV had reported on its microblog site that Meng had said: "Use of the re-education through labour system will end this year, after approval from the standing committee of the National People's Congress."
The National People's Congress refers to China's largely rubberstamp parliament session held annually in March.The National People's Congress refers to China's largely rubberstamp parliament session held annually in March.
The justice ministry did not respond to a faxed inquiry by Reuters.The justice ministry did not respond to a faxed inquiry by Reuters.
The labour camp system has come under fire from intellectuals, rights lawyers and activists, and even state media.The labour camp system has come under fire from intellectuals, rights lawyers and activists, and even state media.
"If it can be abolished this year, I think it's an extremely important step toward rule of law," He Weifang, a law professor at Peking University, told Reuters."If it can be abolished this year, I think it's an extremely important step toward rule of law," He Weifang, a law professor at Peking University, told Reuters.
China has 350 labour camps throughout the country, housing about 160,000 inmates, according to Xinhua.China has 350 labour camps throughout the country, housing about 160,000 inmates, according to Xinhua.
Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, a New York-based advocacy group, said there had been a precedent for a new leadership to take a symbolic step of reforming problematic systems.Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, a New York-based advocacy group, said there had been a precedent for a new leadership to take a symbolic step of reforming problematic systems.
"It has been my sense that Xi Jinping means business and that there would be a departure from the caretaking years of Hu and Wen," he said, referring to outgoing president Hu Jintao and outgoing premier Wen Jiabao."It has been my sense that Xi Jinping means business and that there would be a departure from the caretaking years of Hu and Wen," he said, referring to outgoing president Hu Jintao and outgoing premier Wen Jiabao.
But Bequelin cautioned that reform, rather than the outright abolishment of the system, may only mean procedural improvements such as "a somewhat milder form of administrative detention". But Bequelin warned that reform, rather than the outright abolition of the system, might only mean procedural improvements, such as "a somewhat milder form of administrative detention".
He said a system could be introduced with some procedural protection, such as a hearing and the ability of a defendant to get legal counsel. He said a system might be introduced with some procedural protection, such as a hearing and legal counsel for defendants.
State media have taken up the case of people it believes have suffered miscarriages of justice under the system such as Ren Jianyu, a village official sentenced to a labour camp after he criticised the government. State media have taken up the case of people believed have suffered miscarriages of justice under the system, such as Ren Jianyu, a village official sentenced to a labour camp after he criticised the government.
Media also rallied to the defence of Tang Hui, a woman sent to a labour camp in August for demanding that the men who had raped her daughter be given harsher punishment. She was later released. Media also rallied to the defence of Tang Hui, a woman sent to a labour camp in August for demanding harsher punishment for men who had raped her daughter. She was later released.
Whether China reforms the system hinges on the power of security agencies, which are responsible for reining in social unrest that threatens the party's efforts to maintain stability.Whether China reforms the system hinges on the power of security agencies, which are responsible for reining in social unrest that threatens the party's efforts to maintain stability.
Meng, also public security minister, took over as head of the body that oversees law-and-order policy after November's party congress from Zhou Yongkang, who critics say had accumulated too much power. Meng, who is also public security minister, took over as head of the body that oversees law and order policy from Zhou Yongkang, who is accused of accumulating too much power.