August 31
CHINA----execution
Former Didi driver executed for rape, murder
Zhong Yuan, a Didi driver who raped and killed a 19-year-old female passenger
in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, last year, was executed by a court on Friday
after China's top court approved his death penalty.
The Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court announced the decision made by the
Supreme People's Court on Zhong's case and then executed him under the
supervision of prosecutors.
Before the execution, Zhong was allowed by the court to meet his family
members.
The 28-year-old native of Sichuan province had debts from online gambling and
planned on robbing his female taxi passengers, the court said. Zhong, who
worked as a driver for Didi, the country's largest ride-hailing company, had
prepared tools for the robberies including knives, masks and adhesive tape.
On Aug 23, last year, he unsuccessfully tried to rob a female passenger
surnamed Lin. The next day, he raped and stabbed to death a 19-year-old female
passenger surnamed Zhao in Yueqing county, Wenzhou. He dumped her body on the
slope of a cliff near the highway.
The case stirred a public outcry and triggered a nationwide safety check of
drivers working in the online ride-hailing industry. It also prompted the
Ministry of Transport to announce plans to tighten regulation of the industry.
On Feb 1, Zhong was handed the death penalty and fined 25,000 yuan ($3,500) by
the Wenzhou court after being found guilty of robbery, rape and intentional
homicide. The Zhejiang High People's Court later upheld the judgment.
Under the Chinese Criminal Procedure Law, any death penalty made by a lower
court must be submitted to the SPC for review before execution.
On Friday, the top court said in a statement that Zhong should be heavily
penalized, as his behavior was extremely cruel.
"The ruling made by the court in Wenzhou was based on sufficient evidence and
clear facts," it said. "The application of the law and the sentence given by
the court were also correct and reasonable."
(source: China Daily)
SRI LANKA:
EU asks Sri Lanka to maintain moratorium on executions
The European Union (EU) on Friday asked Sri Lanka to maintain the moratorium on
executions, saying that it is resolutely opposed to the death penalty.
“The EU reiterated its opposition to the use of the death penalty in all
circumstances and encouraged Sri Lanka to maintain its moratorium on executions
with a view to abolishing the death penalty,” a Joint Statement issued after
the fourth meeting of the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human
Rights under the European Union-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was held in Colombo.
The expression of concern by the EU in this matter is important because the
President of Sri Lanka, Maitrhipala Sirisena, is determined to re-introduce
executions on which there has been a moratorium since 1975. In his view, the
death penalty and executions are necessary to control the drug trade menace.
The EU welomed Sri Lanka’s efforts in strengthening institutions, policies and
legislation to fight corruption.
The meeting took place in the context of regular bilateral exchanges between
the European Union and Sri Lanka, and readmission to the EU GSP+ scheme, in
light of Sri Lanka’s commitment to implement the international conventions
ratified by Sri Lanka on human rights, labour rights, the protection of the
environment and good governance.
By opposing executions the EU has sent a signal that Sri Lanka loose the
General System of Preferences Plus duty waivers which were given back to it in
2017. The EU, along with the US, is the main market for Sri Lankan exports.
Minority Rights and Counter-Terrorism Discussed
The EU welcomed progress made in protecting and promoting human rights and
fundamental freedoms in the country, and called for continuation and
consolidation of these achievements in the future. Furthermore, advancing the
rights of women and children, enforcing non-discrimination on any grounds,
addressing the rights of persons belonging to minorities, finalising the return
of land, were discussed. Progress on implementation of the zero-tolerance of
torture was reviewed.
The meeting took place in the context of regular bilateral exchanges between
the European Union and Sri Lanka, and readmission to the EU GSP+ scheme, in
light of Sri Lanka’s commitment to implement the international conventions
ratified by Sri Lanka on human rights, labour rights, the protection of the
environment and good governance.
The Joint Working Group discussed matters related to minorities and measures to
address hate speech, as well as, radicalization and violent extremism.
In the context of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, EU and Sri Lanka have
agreed to strengthen cooperation and dialogue on counter-terrorism in the
aftermath of the attacks. The need for new counter-terrorism legislation in
line with international standards and human rights was stressed.
The Working Group reaffirmed its commitment to promote and protect human rights
domestically and globally and to collaborate on the effective implementation of
international human rights instruments. The conclusions and recommendations of
the Working Group will be reported to the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission to be
held in Colombo.
The delegation of Sri Lanka was led by Ms. Dhammika Semasinghe,
Director-General for European Union and Commonwealth Division of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. The delegation of the European Union was led
by Ms Caroline Vinot, Head of Division for Regional Affairs and South Asia of
the European External Action Service.
(source: newsin.asia)
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