China's top prosecution office has demanded that the interrogation of criminal suspects be filmed, in order to stop police from using torture to force confessions.

Legal experts view the move as a key step to improving human rights.

China has been launching a pilot project allowing suspects to be interrogated at the presence of lawyers, or by recording and videotaping the whole process. It aims at curbing suspects from forced confessions and protecting their rights and interests.

The pilot project was jointly initiated by China's three provincial public security sectors and the University of Political Science and Law.

Although China has outlawed torture decades ago, there have still been complaints about its usage.

In a recent high profile case, a Chinese man who served 11 years in jail for the murder of his wife was declared innocent in April, after the victim reappeared.

Hu Rong, one of the project initiators from Beijing said a lack of monitoring system in China's judicial system results in the inadequate ruling. Therefore, a just and transparent interrogation mechanism should be in place to ensure accurate and independent investigation.

"We have divided a total of 120 cases into two groups. One of the groups was given lawyers during the investigation or their investigation was recorded or videotaped. In the other group, the suspects were interrogated in a traditional way, directly by the interrogators," said Hu. 

Hu Rong and her colleagues find out that when the lawyers were present, the suspects were more willing to cooperate with the investigators, thus reducing the likelihood of them revoking their confessions or testimonies during their trial.

As a human rights expert at China's Ministry of Justice, Feng Jiancangs says the prevention measures will help law practitioners be self-disciplined.

"During the interrogation, the lawyers' presence will effectively alleviate the suspects' worry so as to prevent them from being tortured." Feng added.

"In addition, lawyers at present will monitor whether or not the investigators have handled cases according to the law. It also avoids suspects from framing investigators of breaking the law during interrogation and prosecution."

Feng Jiancang added that in order to curb confession through torture, China should perfect the relevant laws and raise human rights awareness in the law enforcement.

(CRI June 7, 2005)