NP - Executions mark UN drug day

[David Morris]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,513047,00.html

John Gittings in Shanghai
Wednesday June 27, 2001
The Guardian

China marked the UN's anti-drugs day yesterday in the emphatic manner for 
which it has become noted - by executing more than 50 people for drug crimes 
after they had been sentenced at mass rallies.
In Kunming, capital of the border province of Yunnan, which has China's 
worst drug problem, 20 alleged traffickers were sentenced at a rally 
attended by thousands. As usual, the executions were carried out immediately 
afterwards at a separate location .

The state television carried scenes from the rally live on its national news 
programmes.

Other alleged drug offenders were executed in the cities of Wuhan and 
Chongqing, and on Hainan island.

Even Shanghai, which keeps a low profile in national campaigns, made a token 
contri bution to the toll by sentencing one person to death. The Shanghai 
Daily newspaper had announced a day in advance that Zhu Qinggang, a 
30-year-old trafficker from Sichuan province, would be executed "to help 
mark World Anti-Drug Day".


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