China Focus: Lawmakers call for labor camp reform (3)

By Xinhua writers Mou Xu, Han Miao (Xinhua)

18:12, March 03, 2013

The central authorities have recognized the need for the reform. In January, a national political and legal work conference put the process as a priority for 2013.

Some provinces have already acted. Southwest Yunnan has stopped sending people to re-education through labor camps on grounds including threatening national security, petitioning by causing unrest, and smearing the image of officials.

In late January, south China's Guangdong Province said it had made plans to end the system within the year.

However, Yang Weicheng said full abolishment of laojiao was still difficult at the moment and reducing its use could be a measure applied during the transition.

In Deng Hui's opinion, the first and foremost task of the reform is to hand over the right to execute laojiao to judicial authorities, while at the same time give a bigger role to community correction as a possible substitute.

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