The most popular method of execution for quite a while was firing squad, but lethal injection is the more common approach nowadays. Zhao Shijie, president of the Yunnan Provincial High Court, was quoted as saying: “The use of lethal injection shows that China’s death penalty system is becoming more civilized and humane.” Errrrm….
China has also invented one of the sickest (literally) bits of kit ever: the execution van. These modified minibuses, of which there are thought to be about 40, mean that even the most remote citizens can be executed at a lower cost. They don’t need to be transported hundreds of miles. Oh no Sir, the death will come to them.
The vans have an internal, windowless room with a bed that slides out from the wall. The victim is strapped in, the needle is placed into the arm and a simple push of a button sends the poison searing into the veins.
Another reason that these execution vans have risen in popularity is that there’s a huge black market for organs in China. Although it is illegal to buy and sell body parts, even the government admitted in 2009 that two thirds of the organ transplants carried out were via executed prisoners.
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The execution van means they have a perfect hidden lab to chop out important bits to sell on, the bodies are then hurriedly cremated to disguise any removals.
One of the most obvious arguments against capital punishment is that it can’t be taken back if someone is wrongly accused. Whether morally you can stomach it or not, everyone knows that even the best judicial system in the world will make a balls up every once in a while. China, of course, is no exception.
In 1984 Wei Qingan, a 23-year-old, was tried and executed for rape; a few weeks later, the real perpetrator owned up, but it was all too late for Wei.
In 1989 Teng Xingshan was executed for the murder and rape of a missing women. The women turned up 4 years later saying she had been kidnapped.
Nie Shubin and a Mongolian Qoγsiletu, both 19-year-olds, were executed in 1995 and 1996 respectively for a rape and murder that they did not commit.
Those errors alone make me anti-capital punishment. But I’m pretty sure the Chinese officials won’t listen to what any of us have to say. They are insular by choice and if anything they’ll do the exact opposite of the west on principal. Their human rights record is complete cack and freedom of speech is non-existent. But what you gonna do? There’s no amount of banner waving or petition signing that will make them listen. Our government certainly doesn’t seem to care either, no trade sanctions are looking likely. The bottom line is that Western companies make frig loads of wonga out of China’s cheap labour. So even if they decide to execute one of our own every-so-often it’s all worth while as long as the fat cats get fatter. Sod the humans, make some cash. Bastards.
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