Chinese lawmakers have urged the government to offer financial assistance to people who fell victim to criminal cases but got no compensation from the impoverished accused.

"Many victims in criminal cases could not get any compensation and were left struggling in life difficulties. This has become a problem affecting social stability," said Zhang Linchun, a deputy to the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

The lack of protection of victims' rights has sparked a public outcry in China. One of the recent widely-reported cases was about a slayer executed for killing ten people in a temple. Qiu Xinghua the convict and his family were so poor that none of the victims' families were compensated.

Five families withdrew their claims to compensation after the court briefed them on Qiu's financial status. The court also ruled against the request for state compensation, saying there were no laws governing post-trial judicial aid.

Zhang said many victims' families failed to get compensation just like in Qiu's case even though they won the lawsuits.

"To offer certain financial assistance to the victims and help resolve their life difficulties is a move to show respect for human rights," Zhang said.

"Such a practice will also help improve social harmony," said Zhang, president of the Higher People's Court of Guizhou Province.

Sun Qian, another NPC deputy, said China's rapid economic growth and increasing financial capacity has made it possible for the government to set up a financial assistance program to the victims in criminal cases.

In addition, fines and money confiscated by the judicial departments from the criminals should be used to compensate the victims for the damages brought about by the criminals, Sun said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2007)