IT was with great sadness that we received the news in February of the death of Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International.

He was a man who brought light into the darkness of prisons, exposed the horror of torture chambers and death camps around the world and we are proud to continue the work he began 44 years ago.

Today we hear a lot about the rise of China as the next big economy, and are informed that food aid is no longer necessary for the population as China can now feed itself. What we hear less about is what life is like an dhow the authorities treat the ordinary citizen.

Amnesty International has just published a report on the use of the death penalty around the world, which found that more than 3,400 people were executed in China last year -- which is more than all the other countries combined.

Many of these people did not receive a fair trial before being sentenced to death, and the number even includes people who were children when they committed the offences.

Execution, which is by lethal injection or firing squad, is permitted as a punishment for non-violent crimes including tax fraud.

Britain must make better respect for human rights a central part of our relations with China.

Readers who want to know more about this subject, and perhaps want to get involved locally with campaigning for human rights are invited to our meetings every second Tuesday of each month at the Friends Meeting House, Paradise Lane (off King Street), Blackburn.

IRENE RYAN, Secretary, Blackburn with Darwen Amnesty Group.