Jia Chunwang, procurator-general of China's
Supreme People's Procuratorate, pledged to crack down on
environmental crimes Thursday.
Jia urged procuratorates at all levels to strengthen the fight
against crimes that damage or pollute the environment.
"Suspects should be arrested and sued instead of being simply
fined," he stressed.
At the recent annual sessions of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC),
several NPC deputies and CPPCC members lambasted organizations and
individuals that damage or pollute the environment.
The NPC deputies and CPPCC members required procuratorates to
make criminals shoulder their responsibilities, saying severe
punishments should not be replaced with a mere fine.
Jia asked all procuratorates to intensify their fight against
these criminals and play an active role in building an energy
efficient and environmentally friendly country.
Last year, Chinese director Chen Kaige was fined 90,000 yuan
(US$11,250) for littering and destroying vegetation while shooting
his 42-million-dollar film "The Promise" at a scenic nature reserve
in Shangri La, in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
On February 27, China released a new regulation to restrict film
shoots and artistic performances in its natural reserves and scenic
spots in order to protect these areas.
(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2007)