Rape victim mother's labor camp suit in China to be heard

CHANGSHA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A case involving a mother of a young rape victim who is suing a local authority for putting her into a labor camp will be heard by a court in central China's Hunan Province next Friday.

Tang Hui, who has petitioned for harsher punishments for those guilty of raping her daughter and forcing her into prostitution, demanded 1,463.85 yuan (234 U.S. dollars) in compensation from the re-education-through-labor commission in the city of Yongzhou for infringing her personal freedom, an official with the Yongzhou Intermediate People's Court said.

In the administrative lawsuit in January, Tang also demanded 1,000 yuan for psychological damage as well as a written apology.

In January, the Yongzhou re-education-through-labor commission rejected her demand for state compensation for her detention in a labor camp.

In October 2006, Tang's then 11-year-old daughter was kidnapped, raped and forced into prostitution. She was rescued on Dec. 30, 2006.

On June 5 last year, the Hunan Provincial Higher People's Court sentenced two of the girl's kidnappers to death. Four others were given life sentences and another one received a 15-year term.

Before and after the sentences were handed down, Tang had repeatedly petitioned in front of government buildings, complaining that the local police had falsified evidence to reduce the sentences of those involved.

Tang also demanded that "two local police officers in Yongzhou be punished by law for raping my daughter."

Police took Tang to a labor camp on Aug. 2, 2012 to serve an 18-month term for "seriously disturbing social order and exerting a negative impact on society" through her protests.

Her detention led to public anger. Under public pressure, Tang was released eight days later, as the center said her daughter, who turned 17 last year, was still a minor in need of her mother's care.

Tang's story also has sparked public outcry for the reform of the country's re-education through labor system, which allows police to detain people for up to four years without an open trial.

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