China fights terrorism to protect citizens' human rights: report

BEIJING - China has been combating terrorism in accordance with law to protect citizens' human rights, according to a white paper issued by the State Council Information Office on Monday.

The document, titled "Progress in China's Human Rights in 2014, " said that in 2014 China strengthened supervision over foodstuffs, improved laws and regulations on production safety, combated terrorism according to law, attached more importance to protecting the rights of the accused, detainees and criminals, and stepped up drug-control efforts to protect citizens' personal rights.

According to the white paper, the people's courts at all levels dealt with 558 cases of crimes of inciting separatism and terrorism, prosecuting 712 culprits. The judicial organs severely punished crimes such as the terrorist attacks at Tian'anmen on October 28, 2013 and at Kunming railway station on March 1, 2014 to ensure the safety of life and property of the people.

Also, in October 2014 the draft of the Anti-terrorism Law was first deliberated at the 11th Plenary Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. In November 2014 public views of the draft were solicited via www.npc.gov.cn.

On December 28, 2014, the 12th Plenary Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th NPC approved the Anti-terrorism Convention of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to further international cooperation against terrorism, according to the white paper.

The white paper also noted that the rights of the accused, detainees and criminals in China are better protected, another step the country is taking to improve human rights.

Regulations have been issued to make sure audio-video recording is used in the entire process of interrogating criminal suspects. The public security, judicial and administrative departments at all levels worked together to promote the establishing of legal aid stations in detention centers with resident lawyers from legal aid organizations providing legal consultation for the accused and detainees to protect their legitimate rights and interests.

The white paper said the law enforcement process is made fairer, stricter and more civilized.

Also, the document said that in 2014 the Chinese government promoted development concepts and systems innovation, adopted effective measures to guarantee citizens' access to fair development, had more people to share the fruit of reform and development, and better protected the people's economic, social and cultural rights.