Chinese Law Agencies Urge More Caution

China's four major law enforcement agencies, the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Justice, called for more cautious handling of death penalty cases in a jointly issued document on Sunday.

"Our country still cannot abolish the death penalty but should gradually reduce its application," the statement said. "But where there is a possibility someone should not be executed [due to possibility of innocence], then without exception the person should not be killed."

The statement indicated that China cannot entirely abolish the death penalty, but took major steps toward ensuring that "each death sentence is made in a fair way." The agencies asked law enforcement officials to strictly obey laws in identifying facts, collecting evidence, dealing with procedures and adopting punishments. The document especially sought to prevent law enforcement officials from inquisition by torture and extorting confession, going as far as noting the human rights of criminals.

Asserting such principles is a big step for China's judicial system, which executes more people than any other nation in the world. China revised its death penalty laws last year, mandating the Supreme People's Court to review any death sentences handed down. The country has been under pressure to take a closer look at its policies after China's deputy chief prosecutor revealed that almost every wrongful conviction in recent years has been the result of torture and intensive interrogation techniques.

See the AP story here: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070312/D8NQICPG0.html