Flower baskets are presented as a tribute to martyrs during a commemorative event at the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ang)

China's Supreme People's Court Thursday released 10 typical cases concerning the protection of the rights and interests of martyrs and relevant memorial facilities. These cases include sentences for the insults and defamation of Chinese agricultural scientist Yuan Longping and Qi Fabao, the regimental commander from the PLA Xinjiang Military Command.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of China’s current Constitution. The typical cases issued by the court not only aim to protect the rights and interests of heroes and martyrs, but also to further safeguard the authority of the Constitution to promote social equity and justice.

An official of China’s Supreme People's Court said that courts across the country will intensify efforts to protect the rights and interests of martyrs, punish illegal and criminal activities that infringe upon their reputations and honor, and properly handle cases filed by martyrs’ families and prosecutors that infringe upon the names, portraits, reputations and honor of martyrs. Civil liabilities shall be determined according to the law for the wrongdoers.

An offender who earlier defamed Chinese agricultural scientist Yuan Longping via overseas social media published a letter in a state-owned media outlet to express a sincere apology to the late scholar and his relatives, promising never to commit such an offense again.

The offender surnamed Zhang was ordered by a local court in Tianjin on May 19 to apologize publicly to eliminate the negative impact, after Zhang published and shared nine times an insulting post about Yuan via an overseas social media platform between May 22 and 24, 2021.

Luo Changping, a former online celebrity and journalist, made a public apology on May 5 for his offensive remarks about the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) in a letter published in the Legal Daily newspaper.

Luo, who has more than 2 million followers on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo, posted humiliating remarks on CPVs last October when talking about the newly released movie The Battle at Lake Changjin.

Luo violated the right of reputation and the right of honor for martyrs by releasing nine satirizing and humiliating posts on Weibo since 2009, which have drawn more than 17 million views and comments. His posts angered many Chinese netizens who reported them to Sina Weibo. 

Luo was sentenced to prison for seven months on May 5 in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province. 

The Supreme People's Court vowed to continue to promote the implementation of the policy of preferential treatment for martyrs, ensure that martyrs’ families can enjoy pensions in accordance with laws and regulations, and enjoy better treatment in education, employment, housing and medical care.

At the same time, the country's legislation will also protect the martyrs' memorial facilities from infringement, and will punish the occupation and destruction of land and facilities within relevant areas.

The official from the Supreme Court noted that those who break the law will be liable for different civil and criminal liabilities or administrative penalties, depending on the severity of the act.

Global Times