The Communist Party hopes the campaign will shore up public confidence in its ability to keep crime rates under control. The death penalty enjoys widespread support among Chinese who feel their streets are less safe after two decades of economic reforms that have thrown millions out of work. Amnesty International and other human rights groups say more than 500 people have been executed since April 11. A Western diplomat counted 801 deaths in the final three weeks of April alone, based on reports in China's state-run media. He asked that he not be named.
China keeps nationwide execution figures a secret.
In 1996, during China's last Strike Hard campaign, more than 4,400 were shot, said Amnesty, a London-based group that opposes the death penalty. The United States executed 85 people last year. Experts agree that the March blasts in Shijiazhuang helped spur the recent campaign. The lone man accused of setting the bombs, Jin Ruchao, and two others convicted of selling him explosives were executed by gunshot April 29. Others were condemned for far less.