Chengguan's way out

In the eyes of the public, chengguan has degenerated into the epitome of the evils of public power.

What happened in Kunming, Yunnan province, this past weekend provides more proof to that opinion.

During a tangle between chengguan, or urban management officers and an illicit street peddler, the latter fell to the ground, according to the official account. An angry crowd besieged the chengguan officers. When police rushed to the scene and attempted to escort the officers out, violence broke. Thirteen police and chengguan officers were reportedly injured, and 14 of their vehicles were overthrown or destroyed.