From the Chinese press

Wrong way to fight corruption

The local disciplinary commission of a small town in Sichuan province has publicly criticized a primary school teacher for hosting a banquet to celebrate the admission of his daughter to Fudan University in Shanghai, saying that he has violated the creed of the central government's anti-extravagance campaign. But the teacher only had a family get-together, for which he paid from his own pocket. Given the facts, the disciplinary commission has picked on the weak to show their support for the central government's thrift campaign, says an article in Guangming Daily. Excerpts:

"Banquet corruption" (or public funds used to hold banquets), has been on the rise in recent years. And some government officials use all kinds of excuses to organize celebrations so that they can take "red envelopes" (or cash gifts) from people who seek favors from them. The central government's crackdown on corruption is targeted against all such activities.