The Death Mobile.

I couldn't believe it when I read this article, are the Chinese very very 'BAD' or have we gone soft? They have devised a van that can execute criminals once they have been given the death sentence, using a lethal injection. So far last year 1,715 people were executed and the Chinese government state that it is proving to be a deterrent, as the van's presence within the community is an strong indication of what punishment will be given, if certain crimes are committed. The bed slides to the center of the van so the prisoner can be strapped down, then the injection is administered. The procedure is watched on camera by the prison staff and medical team.

I know that China has a very ruthless, hard line view of crime and punishment which obviously seems to be working. However, it reminded me of the Nazis, the death camps and the gas vans which were appalling crimes against humanity. Are the Chinese government as bad as the criminals themselves in treating prisoners so cruelly, or are they really solving crime, or being as bad or even worse than the Nazis. I'm not sure how I feel about this form of deterrent. What do you think?

The Daily Mail, Saturday 28th March 2009, p40-41 (article by Andrew Malone).
Also online: www.dailymail.co.uk