A credibility test for local administration

Was the death of a villager on Monday the result of his own act of arson, or was it a tragedy triggered by the local government's attempt to demolish his house by force? This is not a question only about one death. It is about whether a local government's behavior can add to its credibility or reduce its worthiness.

The dead villager's family and other villagers interviewed in Pingyi county, East China's Shandong province, said there was a connection between the fire and the attempted forced demolition. But the local government said the villager torched his own property and killed himself. Video clips show some people throwing rocks at the house while it was on fire.

Another important fact is that the villager's wife was kidnapped on the same day and shoved into a minivan on her way back home after sending her children to school. She was physically abused and is still in hospital.