A total of 1,595 state employees were prosecuted on charges
involving human rights last year, up 13.3 percent on 2003, said the
procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate in his
annual work report to the National People's Congress on
Wednesday.
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"Procuratorial organs have been implementing the Constitution's
human rights amendments and have strengthened their fight against
those abusing them," said Jia
Chunwang.
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The supreme procuratorate established two hotlines last June for
people to report job-related human rights violations, a major focus
set for procuratorates from May 2004 to June this year.
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Human rights violations by state organs are defined by the
procuratorate as dereliction of duty that causes loss of life or
property, illegal detention and search, gaining confessions or
collecting evidence with violence, sabotaging elections and
infringing on citizens' civil rights, or mistreating
detainees.
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"The Supreme People's Procuratorate directly supervised 82 major
cases last year," said Jin.
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He stressed that state procuratorial organs have also intensified
measures in the examination of evidence and listening to suspects
and lawyers to reduce cases of wrongful arrest and
prosecution.
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Amendments to the Constitution, adopted by the top legislature in
March last year, stipulate "the state respects and safeguards human
rights."
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A host of government officials were punished or convicted last year
for abusing their power, including those responsible for the sale
of fake baby milk powder in east China's Anhui Province and for a
stampede accident in the Beijing suburb of Miyun.
(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2005)