Dui Hua Appeals for “Olympic Pardon” For Long-Serving Prisoners
(中文译文在英文声明后 / A Chinese translation of this statement follows the English version)
The Dui Hua Foundation has appealed to the Chinese government to grant an "Olympic pardon" in conjunction with the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing. The pardon would apply to long-serving prisoners who no longer pose a threat to society and are nearing the end of their sentences.
The appeal for the special pardon was expressed in an April 24, 2008, letter from Dui Hua Executive Director John Kamm to Wu Bangguo (吴邦国), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's highest legislative body. Kamm pointed out that no Olympic host has ever declared a pardon for long-serving prisoners: "China has an historic opportunity to be the first Olympics host to do so, thereby leaving an important humanitarian legacy for future hosts."
Article 67 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China grants the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress the power to grant special pardons for prisoners. The power has been exercised in the past when the Committee issued pardons to imprisoned officers of the Nationalist Party (KMT) and other prisoners. These pardons were issued on seven separate occasions between 1959 and 1975.
In his letter to Chairman Wu, Kamm writes that "a fundamental principle of the Olympics has been the Olympic Truce," which has historically promoted peace, solidarity, and humanitarianism during the games. On October 31, 2007, the resolution submitted by China to endorse the Olympic Truce was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly. Since 1993, when Olympic Truce resolutions became standard in the UN, China has supported the principle as a resolution co-sponsor, and an Olympic pardon for long-serving prisoners is a natural expression of the Olympic Truce ideal.
Kamm closed the letter by saying that the Standing Committee is "best qualified to determine the scope of the Olympic pardon," and that, in the spirit of wishing for the success of the Beijing Olympics, Dui Hua "hope[s] that the scope will be broad, reflecting the deep humanitarianism of the Chinese people and the ideals of the International Olympics movement."
"An Olympic pardon would not target any one group of prisoners," says Kamm in reference to Dui Hua's letter. "But a pardon for those who have served the great bulk of their sentences would result in the release of the remaining prisoners from June 1989—symbolically putting that tragedy behind the Chinese people—as well as those still serving sentences for counterrevolution, a crime removed from China's criminal law in 1997."
The Dui Hua Foundation has appealed to the Chinese government to grant an "Olympic pardon" in conjunction with the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing. The pardon would apply to long-serving prisoners who no longer pose a threat to society and are nearing the end of their sentences.
The appeal for the special pardon was expressed in an April 24, 2008, letter from Dui Hua Executive Director John Kamm to Wu Bangguo (吴邦国), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's highest legislative body. Kamm pointed out that no Olympic host has ever declared a pardon for long-serving prisoners: "China has an historic opportunity to be the first Olympics host to do so, thereby leaving an important humanitarian legacy for future hosts."
Article 67 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China grants the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress the power to grant special pardons for prisoners. The power has been exercised in the past when the Committee issued pardons to imprisoned officers of the Nationalist Party (KMT) and other prisoners. These pardons were issued on seven separate occasions between 1959 and 1975.
In his letter to Chairman Wu, Kamm writes that "a fundamental principle of the Olympics has been the Olympic Truce," which has historically promoted peace, solidarity, and humanitarianism during the games. On October 31, 2007, the resolution submitted by China to endorse the Olympic Truce was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly. Since 1993, when Olympic Truce resolutions became standard in the UN, China has supported the principle as a resolution co-sponsor, and an Olympic pardon for long-serving prisoners is a natural expression of the Olympic Truce ideal.
Kamm closed the letter by saying that the Standing Committee is "best qualified to determine the scope of the Olympic pardon," and that, in the spirit of wishing for the success of the Beijing Olympics, Dui Hua "hope[s] that the scope will be broad, reflecting the deep humanitarianism of the Chinese people and the ideals of the International Olympics movement."
"An Olympic pardon would not target any one group of prisoners," says Kamm in reference to Dui Hua's letter. "But a pardon for those who have served the great bulk of their sentences would result in the release of the remaining prisoners from June 1989—symbolically putting that tragedy behind the Chinese people—as well as those still serving sentences for counterrevolution, a crime removed from China's criminal law in 1997."
「对话」呼吁为长期服刑的囚犯实施"奥林匹克特赦"
中美对话基金会呼吁中国政府为迎接即将就举行的北京夏季奥运会,实行"奥林匹克特赦"。特赦的对象可包括那些已长期服刑又近刑满、并不再危害社会的囚犯。
2008年4月24日,基金会执行董事康原致函中国人大常委会委员长吴邦国建议实施特赦。康原指出,因为以往并无奥运举办国实施特赦的先例,所以,"中国正把握着一个历史性的机遇,成为第一个颁布'奥林匹克特赦'的东道主,为今后的举办国留下一个重要的人道主义传统"。
依据中华人民共和国宪法第六十七条,人大常委有权力就决定实施囚犯特赦。自1959至1975年,人大常委会七次行使了这一权力,赦免了大批在押的国民党官员及其他犯人。
在致吴邦国委员长的信中,康原提到,"奥运会[成员国]都遵守奥林匹克休战的基本原则。"奥运赛事期间,参赛各方应宣扬和平、团结与博爱。2007年10月31日,联合国大会通过了中国提交的《奥林匹克休战决议》。自1993年奥林匹克休战被纳入联合国的规范以来,作为倡导国之一的中国一直予以支持。所以,中国对已长期服刑的囚犯实施特赦,正是遵循奥林匹克休战理念恰如其分的具体表现。
康原在信末坦诚:"由人大常务委员会来确定奥林匹克特赦的范围是最为合适的"。在祝愿北京奥运会圆满成功的同时,「对话」也期望"[特赦包括]一个广泛的范围,从而反映出中国人民深厚的人道主义精神及国际奥林匹克运动所代表的理念"。
康原就特赦范围进而阐述:"'奥林匹克特赦'不应只限定于某一类的囚犯。若特赦能适用于所有已服完大部分刑期的囚犯,仍在押的"六•四"犯人也将受益,有利于他们及其亲友摆脱这一事件带来的阴影。此外,中国已于1997年从刑法中取消了"反革命罪",特赦也将为仍在狱中服刑的反革命罪犯赋予新生"。
2008年4月24日,基金会执行董事康原致函中国人大常委会委员长吴邦国建议实施特赦。康原指出,因为以往并无奥运举办国实施特赦的先例,所以,"中国正把握着一个历史性的机遇,成为第一个颁布'奥林匹克特赦'的东道主,为今后的举办国留下一个重要的人道主义传统"。
依据中华人民共和国宪法第六十七条,人大常委有权力就决定实施囚犯特赦。自1959至1975年,人大常委会七次行使了这一权力,赦免了大批在押的国民党官员及其他犯人。
在致吴邦国委员长的信中,康原提到,"奥运会[成员国]都遵守奥林匹克休战的基本原则。"奥运赛事期间,参赛各方应宣扬和平、团结与博爱。2007年10月31日,联合国大会通过了中国提交的《奥林匹克休战决议》。自1993年奥林匹克休战被纳入联合国的规范以来,作为倡导国之一的中国一直予以支持。所以,中国对已长期服刑的囚犯实施特赦,正是遵循奥林匹克休战理念恰如其分的具体表现。
康原在信末坦诚:"由人大常务委员会来确定奥林匹克特赦的范围是最为合适的"。在祝愿北京奥运会圆满成功的同时,「对话」也期望"[特赦包括]一个广泛的范围,从而反映出中国人民深厚的人道主义精神及国际奥林匹克运动所代表的理念"。
康原就特赦范围进而阐述:"'奥林匹克特赦'不应只限定于某一类的囚犯。若特赦能适用于所有已服完大部分刑期的囚犯,仍在押的"六•四"犯人也将受益,有利于他们及其亲友摆脱这一事件带来的阴影。此外,中国已于1997年从刑法中取消了"反革命罪",特赦也将为仍在狱中服刑的反革命罪犯赋予新生"。