Roundup - 27/12/2009

• Two cousins of Akmal Shaikh, the british man awaiting execution in China, have arrived in Beijing to deliver a plea for mercy to President Hu Jintao. Akmal Shaikh was arrested in Urumqi, Xinjiang, in possession of 4kg of Heroin, his final attempt to appeal failed earlier this year. He was convinced by a Polish gang to carry a suitcase into China in return for achieving a hit single. His lawyers say that he is suffering from bipolar disorder but that evidence of this was not admitted prior to sentencing. According to Chinese criminal law, anybody suffering from a psychiatric condition should have this taken into account during sentencing. The Chinese authorities say that Akmal Shaikh insisted on his own sanity at his trial and therefore it was not necessary to admit the evidence. He is due to be executed on Tuesday.
  
  
  
• The National People's Congress has closed its final session of 2009, passing environmental and tort laws. The tort laws will take effect in July and are designed to cover liabilities for accidents and injuries involving such things as medical malpractice, pollution and work-related injuries. It will also provide legal recourse for those whose privacy has been infringed or reputation defamed.
  
  A new amendment to the renewable energy law is designed to increase China's use of renewable energy. Until now much of China's renewable energy production has been badly linked to the national grid and often priced out of the market by coal power stations. The amendment states that all energy from renewable sources must be bought before other sources can be used.
  
  
  
• Taiwan's President Ma Yingjiu has called on the People's Republic to 'tolerate those people who voice their opinions in a peaceful manner.' The call comes after China sentenced the dissident Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in jail for his part in Charter 08, a document which called on China to institute wide ranging reforms of its political system. President Ma has been accused of turning a blind eye to China's human rights record by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party. The DPP gained ground in recent local elections by rallying opposition to closer ties with the mainland.