China turns dark page of history, puts end to labour camps

In a clear reversal of a decades-old practice of human rights abuse, China announced on Monday that it would put a stop to the system of “re-education through labour”, more commonly known as labour camps, in 2013.

A senior Chinese legal official told the Post that Meng Jianzhu, head of the Communist Party’s Poltiical and Legal Affairs Committee, told a meeting of judicial and legal officials from all over the country on Monday that the party had decided it would stop the practice of sending people to labour camps within the year.

“The Central Committee has decided, after research, that after approval by the National People’s Congress, to stop using the system of re-education through labour this year,” said the official who attended the meeting.

“I feel that Secretary Meng’s comments were filled with a new spirit, that they signal the progress our society has made. ”