China sentences 55 people for commiting terrorism in a public trial

[hellheaven1987]

So when public execution would be hosted?

Fifty-five people have been sentenced for terrorism, separatism and murder at a stadium in China's north-western Xinjiang region, state media report.

The defendants, who appeared to be from the region's Muslim Uighur community, were presented at a venue holding about 7,000 spectators.

Three of the defendants were sentenced to death.

Chinese officials have blamed militant Uighur groups for a growing number of violent attacks across the country.

Photos from the open-air mass sentencing showed police trucks parked near a running track.

Prisoners wearing orange vests stood in the back of the vehicles, surrounded by armed guards, their heads bowed.

The sentencing happened in Yili, near China's border with Kazakhstan.

Local officials and residents watched the proceedings.

Those sentenced to death had used weapons to murder a family last year "using extremely cruel methods", according to reports.

No further details about the defendants' cases were immediately available.

The public rally seems to have been a show of force by the Chinese government, which has just launched a national anti-terrorism operation focusing on Xinjiang.

Officials last week announced a one-year campaign against militant violence in Xinjiang, banning people from conducting or supporting extremist activity.

Source

Jesus, I don't know mass public show trial still exists today, even Best Korea would be surprised. On the other hand, may be US should also hold a public show trial for "terrorists" too?

[mongrel]

On presumption that Chinese due process, such as it is was followed, is this any different to the Western equivalent of a televised trial?

[hellheaven1987]

On presumption that Chinese due process, such as it is was followed, is this any different to the Western equivalent of a televised trial?

Did West sentence 55 people in a televised trial?

[Knight of Heaven]

Did West sentence 55 people in a televised trial?

Not long ago was a western TV show that did that.

[Roma_Victrix]

Not long ago was a western TV show that did that.

You remember which one? That sounds pretty fantastical.

[Knight of Heaven]

You remember which one? That sounds pretty fantastical.

I recon you wont understand Portuguese... regardless. Allthough i belive the original TV show, is American.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

here lol aparently the Original american version still airs...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

From what i gather there is also something like the peoples Court, that its on its 17th season i belive or something like that?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This has to be the most unethical, horrible, bad TV, or the most briliant entertainement ever

Granted they dont sentence 55 people in a row, but im sure they sentenced hundreds or more across the years.

[Phier]

On presumption that Chinese due process, such as it is was followed, is this any different to the Western equivalent of a televised trial?

Short answer yes.

Long answer yeeeeeeessssssssss.

[Dr Zoidberg]

On presumption that Chinese due process, such as it is was followed, is this any different to the Western equivalent of a televised trial?

Pfff, there is no such thing as due process in a Chinese trial. If you've made it to court, you're guilty. The trial is just there to make it look like there is rule of law. Just take a look at any number of the trials associated with anti-corruption investigations.

I remember spending a good hour with one of my Chinese teachers trying to explain innocent until proven guilty and that the whole point of a trial was to demonstrate and establish guilt, not formalise it. Around and around in circles we went, with the teacher continually coming back to a position of "but the criminal is in court, so they're guilty. And there I was, banging my head against a wall going "No!. They're not the criminal, they're the accused. The trial is to prove they're guilty. Gah!"

Was really good Mandarin practice however.

[Prozn856]

Pfff, there is no such thing as due process in a Chinese trial. If you've made it to court, you're guilty. The trial is just there to make it look like there is rule of law. Just take a look at any number of the trials associated with anti-corruption investigations.

I remember spending a good hour with one of my Chinese teachers trying to explain innocent until proven guilty and that the whole point of a trial was to demonstrate and establish guilt, not formalise it. Around and around in circles we went, with the teacher continually coming back to a position of "but the criminal is in court, so they're guilty. And there I was, banging my head against a wall going "No!. They're not the criminal, they're the accused. The trial is to prove they're guilty. Gah!"

Was really good Mandarin practice however.

It's more of the fact that all the well publicized trials pretty much end in guilty verdicts.

[Davius]

It's more of the fact that all the well publicized trials pretty much end in guilty verdicts.

Exactly! Like the OJ Simpson trial.

[Phier]

Exactly! Like the OJ Simpson trial.

Explain how it was anyway like the OJ trial outside of it being viewed by people not involved? There is absolutely no similarity.

[Taiji]

Where's the proof of your allegation that it's a 'show trial'? If you think it's already been provided in your OP then you don't know what 'show trial' means.

[hellheaven1987]

Where's the proof of your allegation that it's a 'show trial'? If you think it's already been provided in your OP then you don't know what 'show trial' means.

Sentence 55 people in one day, with 3 to death, is not show trial?

I would not be surprised if the 7000 spectators need to buy a ticket in order to see the trial.

[Taiji]

Sentence 55 people in one day, with 3 to death, is not show trial?

I would not be surprised if the 7000 spectators need to buy a ticket in order to see the trial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_trial

That seems a reasonable description but I think I can put it better: The phrase describes a trial that is just for show.

So to prove to ourselves it's a show trial we need to see evidence that the trial did not determine the outcome.

Explain the laws they're accused of breaking and the normal Chinese legal process and then point out evidence of these trials deviating from that process to reach a foregone conclusion.

[Condottiere 40K]

I think it depends on your definition of a fair due process, since totalitarian regimes make laws, and then their interpretation tends to be biased as well.

[Davius]

So when public execution would be hosted?



Source

Jesus, I don't know mass public show trial still exists today, even Best Korea would be surprised. On the other hand, may be US should also hold a public show trial for "terrorists" too?

I'd be up for some public executions. We can start with the Gypsy Boston Marathon bomber.

Sentence 55 people in one day, with 3 to death, is not show trial?

I would not be surprised if the 7000 spectators need to buy a ticket in order to see the trial.

Trials are televised all over the world every day. How is this so much different?

[plantagenet_king]

Crazy world

[Condottiere 40K]

Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.

Seen, anyway.

[Col. Tartleton]

It's probably legitimate. Only a handful got the death penalty and I imagine that they probably did qualify for it.

They made it a spectacle to discourage further rebellions in the region and show that Beijing has a long reach.

[Davius]

It's probably legitimate. Only a handful got the death penalty and I imagine that they probably did qualify for it.

They made it a spectacle to discourage further rebellions in the region and show that Beijing has a long reach.

Exactly.