Death Penalty

The death penalty still exists in China but the firm policy of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party is to have this phased out, but it is a decision that must be made by the people. This penalty is seldom enforced, but we heard of a case which happened two-years-ago. A prisoner working on the agricultural commune refused all attempts at re-education and resorted to killing one of the senior cadres and his wife and child. He butchered them with a scythe and aroused the fury of the people in the area who had deep respect for the cadre. They demanded that the rogue be sentenced to death and he was shot. This was a decision made by the masses although it is still the wish of the Central Committee that this penalty be abolished.

The Chinese have a two year lapse between sentence and execution in the case of the death penalty to give the convicted' man a chance to rehabilitate himself. If during the course of two years of study groups and labour he shows himself to have a change of attitude he will be rehabilitated into society with a new start.