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Ease social tensions

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-25 07:45

Several recent crimes have caught nationwide attention and caused tension between grass-root officials and the common people. To address the consequent public indignation and enable harmonious development of social relations, the authorities should strengthen self-discipline and respect the rights of people, says an article in the China Youth News. Excerpt:

When Deng Yujiao, a waitress in an entertainment joint in Badong county, Hubei province, stabbed an official to death when forced to provide "special service", the public showed unanimous sympathy for her, and even called her "a heroine against rapists". Apparently, the official's rude conduct in this case brings to public memory the corrupt and oppressive image of local officials as a whole, and therefore the nationwide outrage caused by the incident.

Similar cases continue to keep strengthening this negative image. With powerful and bullying officials on one side pitted against weak and underprivileged people on the other, tension runs deep. Public anger is swiftly and repeatedly ignited whenever there is a new case of the same kind anywhere else.

This shows deepening fissures in the social structure. Yet the phenomena should be attributed to none other than the local officials themselves.

Instead of representing and protecting people's interests, they have become a great threat to public security and social justice. Many of them abuse their power and deprive the common people of their rights in the name of economic construction.

In order to repair the fissures and develop the basis for a harmonious society, authorities must ensure that the rights of the people at the lowest social and economic levels are protected.

(China Daily 05/25/2009 page4)