From The Southern Weekend, via Press Interpreter, translated by Joseph McMullin:
“Life is most precious under heaven”
The change gives new meaning to the old phrase: “Human life is matter of ‘heavenly’ concern.” Now, the word “heaven” refers to the Supreme Court.
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On December 31st, 2006, chief justices of the Hunan and Sichuan Higher People’s Courts signed the last batch of death sentences. Just one day later, the authority to decide life or death would lie solely with the Supreme Court.Three days before the new year, the Chief Justice of the Shaanxi Higher People’s Court signed a death sentence for “homicidal maniac” Qiu Xinghua. [Full Text]