China: Call for fair investigation in Uyghur region

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) issued this statement in English and Chinese on 21 July 2009, following the recent unrest in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Chinese officials had reportedly threatened to use the death penalty against demonstrators convicted of involvement in violent clashes.

WCADP 對東土耳其斯坦（新疆維吾爾自治區）情勢的聲明

World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) Statement on the recent situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

針對東土耳其斯坦（新疆）近來的情勢，世界反死刑聯盟（WCADP）認為在這次事件尚未完全釐清前，中國政府官員就威脅要使用死刑或最嚴厲的極刑，不但突顯中國缺乏法治，且對緩和維漢衝突完全沒有幫助，也違反中國已簽署之相關國際條約。

World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) is seriously alarmed by the threat of death sentences made by Chinese officials in Urumqi following recent unrest in Urumqi. This threat by the Chinese officials not only indicates the lack of rule of law in China but is also detrimental to the alleviation of tension between Han Chinese and Uyghur. It also violates the core values and spirit of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that China has signed and repeatedly stated its intention to ratify as well as the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) which China has ratified.

因此，世界反死刑聯盟發表聲明如下：
Therefore, World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP), representing member organizations, urges:

1.們呼籲聯合國人權理事會發起真相發現任務團，中國政府對外宣稱此為刑事犯罪事件，就應該接受這個公平的調查，並允許外國媒體自由進行採訪。

1. The initiation of an open, independent, transparent, fair and impartial investigation following the recent reports of violence on the part of both demonstrators and security forces. The Chinese authorities should also ensure unconditional media access in the Region;

2.同時，我們認為，所有參與騷亂事件的嫌疑人，都應該要接受合理、公平的調查以及審判；每位嫌疑人應該要獨立的選任辯護人；每位辯護人都能自主行使律師職權、不受政府的威脅。

2. All the suspects arrested in this incident be guaranteed fair and open investigation and trial, defence lawyers be independent of government pressure, and all defence lawyers be able to freely carry out their role as defence lawyers;

3.中國政府簽署了國際公民與政治權利公約，禁止酷刑和其他殘忍、不人道或有辱人格的待遇或處罰公約，我們也再次申明生命權是基本人權,而死刑不但是殘酷不人道的懲罰，也是一種對於弱勢族群以及政治異議者的歧視，中國政府不應以死刑作為統治、打壓異己的工具；中國政府官員威脅要用死刑來嚴懲騷亂事件的參與者，是錯誤的行為。世界反死刑聯盟反對使用死刑。

3. Right to life is one of the basic human rights. The death penalty is not only a cruel and inhuman punishment but is also utilized as a means of suppressing minorities and dissidents. The Chinese government should act in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) instead of using death penalty as means of governance and suppressing the dissidents. The threat of death penalty from the Chinese officials concerning those arrested in this incident is opposed by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
Created in Rome in 2002, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty brings together 96 bar associations, trade unions, local governments and non-governmental organizations. It aims at strengthening the international dimension of the fight against the death penalty and at contributing to put an end to death sentences and executions.