Akmal Shaikh
Submitted by paulstpancras on Thu, 2010-01-07 10:29.It saddens me that George Lee should seek to defend the execution of a man who was quite clearly suffering from mental ill health.
It underlines that China is not yet ready to take its rightful place in the global order which its size and wealth would entitle it.
Furthermore, as China Hush has recently pointed out: China has rule by law but its failure to develop the rule of law severely hampers its ability to extend democracy to its people.
India has been able to introduce both rule of law and democracy to its one billion citizens.
China's failure in these regards are to be regretted.
If China is to take its place on the global stage, rule of law, democracy and respect for the human rights of its minority peoples are an essential prerequisite.
A humane and compassionate treatment of those suffering from physical and mental disabilities is equally paramount.
The unnecessary and cruel execution of Akmal Shaikh of Holborn and St Pancras diminishes China.
Your support and attempts to justify China's actions are both reprehensible and irresponsible. You bring discredit to the Conservative Party.
You benefit from the rule of law and you benefit, as an equal, from the Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms of the Council of Europe.
Instead of defending China over the execution of Akmal Shaikh, you should be in the forefront of seeking to ensure that China treats its minority peoples including the mentally ill with dignity and equality.
If you merely see yourself as the mouthpiece of an authoritian regime that lives in fear of its own people, you do not merit to be the democratic representative of the people of Holborn and St Pancras.