The Chinese Ministry of Public Security stated Wednesday that some of the country's detention and re-education centers will be open to public visits from July 1 this year, according to China National Radio.

Visitors will have to apply for permission from local police authorities or the management of the centers, present ID cards and reference letters from their workplaces, and will only be admitted as part of an organized visit. Police authorities and center management will also be allowed to invite workplaces to organize staff visits, the ministry said.

Commentator Wang Jian from China National Radio called on the public to respect detainees' privacy and legal rights during visits.

On the Voice of China program, Wang welcomed the move to allow visits to detention houses by government agencies, public groups and journalists. Recent unexplained deaths of detainees have aroused public concern and allowing the public in means they will be able to see the actual conditions detainees live in. Visitors will be able to see the canteens, reading rooms, visiting and medical facilities; the counseling and vocational training detainees receive. It will show that the treatment detainees receive is, on the whole, humane.

The ministry also wants to introduce an external supervisory mechanism to reduce and prevent accidental deaths in detention houses. Visits are a step forward. Furthermore, the visits will educate the public and this will help prevent crime, said Wang.

Journalists and other visitors will only be able to communicate with detainees when permitted by inspectors and while accompanied with policemen. "We frequently call for opening up, and such things as on-line live broadcasts of trials. But I am against that. Media coverage and public opinions may bring unwarranted pressure and lead to cases being tried by public opinion rather than according to law," Wang said.

Around the world it is common practice to require the agreement both defense and prosecution before opening up trials to the public, Wang said. That is the reason court scenes are depicted in sketches rather than photographs in foreign media reports. "I hope reporters and visitors will respect detainees' legal rights. Photos should only be taken and published with their permission," said Wang.

(This post was first published in Chinese on?May 13 and translated by Zhou Jing.)