Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Monday, January 07, 2013

China: Controversial Forced Labor Camp System To End, Media Reports

BEIJING, Jan 7 (Reuters) - China will end its controversial system of forced labour camps, Chinese media cited the domestic security head as saying on Monday, a move that would mark a first step toward promises of reform made by new Communist Party chief Xi Jinping.

Chinese officials have pledged reform of the "re-education through labour" system, in place since the 1950s, which empowers police and other agencies to detain people for up to four years without charge.

"Use of the re-education through labour system will end this year, after approval from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress," state broadcaster CCTV said on its official microblog site, citing the party's newly appointed Political and Legal Affairs Committee head, Meng Jianzhu.

The National People's Congress refers to China's largely rubberstamp parliament session held annually in March.

The Justice Ministry did not immediately respond to a faxed inquiry by Reuters.

The influential news magazine Caixin website also reported Meng's comments, made during a committee meeting. No further details were available from the media reports.

Meng, also public security minister, took over as head of the sprawling body that oversees law-and-order policy after November's 18th Party Congress. (Reporting by Michael Martina and Sally Huang; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Original Article
Source: huffington post
Author: Reuters

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