EXECUTION OF SA CITIZEN: CHINA SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED SA/CHINA RELATIONSHIP

The IFP sends its condolences to the family of Ms Janice Bronwyn Linden, who was executed in China this morning (see BBC News report).

It is unfortunate that even after the South African authorities tried to intervene in this matter, China still went ahead and executed the South African citizen.

It is understandable that China, like any other sovereign country, was exercising the laws that govern its citizens and people within their borders. Laws, which must be respected by all within those borders - regardless of whether they are visitors or citizens.

Be that as it may, with the current growing trade relations between China and South Africa, one would have hoped this relationship would have influenced China differently.

Also knowing that South Africa abolished the death penalty in 1995, in favour of custodial incarceration, China should have considered South Africa's position regarding the death penalty favourably.

It is the IFP's view therefore, that China should have applied custodial incarceration in this matter, instead of the death penalty. The death penalty was abolished in South Africa expressly because its citizens consider it to be a fundamental violation of human rights.

Statement issued by Mr Ben Skosana MP, IFP Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, December 12 2011

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