Chinese lawmakers have urged the government to offer financial
assistance to people who fell victim to criminal cases but got no
compensation from the impoverished accused.
"Many victims in criminal cases could not get any compensation
and were left struggling in life difficulties. This has become a
problem affecting social stability," said Zhang Linchun, a deputy
to the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), China's top
legislature.
The lack of protection of victims' rights has sparked a public
outcry in China. One of the recent widely-reported cases was about
a slayer executed for killing ten people in a temple. Qiu Xinghua
the convict and his family were so poor that none of the victims'
families were compensated.
Five families withdrew their claims to compensation after the
court briefed them on Qiu's financial status. The court also ruled
against the request for state compensation, saying there were no
laws governing post-trial judicial aid.
Zhang said many victims' families failed to get compensation
just like in Qiu's case even though they won the lawsuits.
"To offer certain financial assistance to the victims and help
resolve their life difficulties is a move to show respect for human
rights," Zhang said.
"Such a practice will also help improve social harmony," said
Zhang, president of the Higher People's Court of Guizhou Province.
Sun Qian, another NPC deputy, said China's rapid economic growth
and increasing financial capacity has made it possible for the
government to set up a financial assistance program to the victims
in criminal cases.
In addition, fines and money confiscated by the judicial
departments from the criminals should be used to compensate the
victims for the damages brought about by the criminals, Sun
said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2007)