Editorials

Nation's judiciary fair and beyond doubt

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-30 07:00

A spokesperson for Beijing municipal higher people's court on Friday expressed strong indignation at the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo who is serving a prison sentence, saying that it was a rude interference in China's judicial sovereignty.

China is a nation governed by law. Its judicial sovereignty brooks no interference and the dignity of the judiciary must be safeguarded.

Anyone who violates Chinese law must be punished according to law, the spokesperson said.

"China's judicial organs will strictly follow Chinese law and the court verdict, which has come into effect, to execute the punishment given to Liu," the spokesperson said.

The Beijing No1 intermediate people's court sentenced Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in prison for subversion of State power and deprived him of political rights for two years.

"Liu appealed to the Beijing municipal higher people's court. After hearing the appeal, the higher court held that the initial verdict was sound on factual proof with adequate evidence and the punishment befits his crime," the spokesperson said.

The trial procedures were in line with the law and all the litigation rights of the defendant had been fully safeguarded, the spokesperson said. The higher court rejected Liu's appeal and upheld the first trial's verdict on Feb 11, 2010.

The spokesperson said the court's decision on Liu's case was based on an adequate factual and legal foundation. Liu incited other people to subvert State power and overthrow the socialist system by writing incendiary articles, releasing them on the Internet, and organizing and inducing others to sign in support of his articles.

His behaviors violated Article 105 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China and he has committed the crime of inciting others to subvert State power.

The spokesperson said it was a common practice adopted by most countries of the world and was also in line with the United Nation's relevant conventions to punish people according to law for their criminal behaviors that harm a state power and social system. "We strongly oppose the people who are arbitrarily criticizing China's judiciary by using double standards," the spokesperson said.

Xinhua

(China Daily 10/30/2010 page5)