China mulls law on protecting reputation of heroes, martyrs

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The NPC Standing Committee--China's top legislature has convened its bimonthly session on Thursday. During the week-long session, a report on the draft law protecting heroes and martyrs was submitted to and heard at the meeting for the first review. Lawmakers have deliberated and discussed the law Sunday afternoon.

It is China's first draft law on protecting heroes and martyrs.

The draft says departments including public security, culture, press and cyberspace have a responsibility to protect the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs under their supervision.

Internet operators must handle promptly online information that infringes on heroes and martyrs. The draft also features a public litigation system against cases of infringement. Lawmakers had a heated debated on the draft.

Lawmaker Chen Weiwen said the draft law should state precisely how to define heroes and martyrs as well as the difference between the two.

The draft law also bans the unlawful appropriation of land and facilities near memorials of heroes and martyrs, as well as any damage or contamination of such memorials.

Lawmakers hold panel discussions on the law. /CGTN Photo‍

Lawmaker He Yehui said not only should lawmakers clear the definition of heroes and martyrs, but they should also make clear which department is responsible for defining them and the scale of protection.

Although we don't have a law yet, we do have the Martyrs' Day. The top legislature approved Sept 30 as Martyrs' Day in 2014 to commemorate those who lost their lives for national independence and prosperity.

Every year, the president and other senior leaders will pay tribute and laid floral baskets to the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square. According to incomplete statistics, China has over 20 million martyrs who gave their lives for the independence and prosperity of China.

However, the officially listed martyrs whose names can be verified are merely over 1.93 million. There are 0.99 million tombs dedicated to martyrs in China, as well as 170 memorial facilities overseas.

According to figures from Ministry of Civil Affairs in 2016, registered administrative organizations for martyr memorial facilities reached 1,109; official martyr memorial facilities reached over 9,000; and scattered martyr memorial facilities reached over 12,000.

It is necessary to have a specific law to regulate the honoring activities and better protect the memorial sites. Actually, the legal process has never stopped. This March, during China's political season--The Two Sessions, a new provision has been added to China's draft general provisions of the civil law to hold people accountable for damaging the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs.

People who harm the name, portrait, reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs, thus hurting the public interest, shall bear civil liability. Though this time, the draft law still has a lot to be improved, it is a good move to protect the country's heroes and martyrs in the legal front.

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