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For Party or people?

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-20 08:05

Being in power, the Communist Party of China should represent the interests of the people. It's the foundation for its legitimacy as the prime political force in the country.

All Party members are on principle required to prioritize the people's interest in making and implementing policies.

Violation of this fundamental principle is the root cause of all government irregularities and corruption.

A local deputy chief of the urban planning bureau in Zhengzhou, Henan province, asked a reporter, "Are you going to take the Party's side or the public's?"

The reporter had only asked the official about the villas which were being built on a site meant for affordable housing.

But the official's message was clear: The Party and the public are on opposite sides.

Clearly, the deputy bureau chief believes that he is working for the Party, since the Party has given him the position and the power he is so proud of.

Result? He must assume the responsibility of protecting the Party's image. How does he do that? He prevents media from reporting any news that may have a negative impact on his Party.

It goes without saying that such stupid mentality will only tarnish the Party's image further and undermine the people's trust in the Party.

How can some officials be so muddle-headed that they even forget the principle that the Party's interest must be consistent with that of the people?

This has to do with the traditional education of officials. Many of them ignore the concept of taxpayers. Being loyal to the Party is never enough, as it will perish as soon as it loses the people's support.

It is important to bring home the notion that taxpayers provide for the officials working in the government, and they must first be servants of the people and then members of the Party.

We still remember what Premier Wen Jiabao told soldiers on their way to rescue earthquake victims in Wenchuan last May: "People have provided for you, and now they are in need of you, you know what to do."

The real danger for the Party lies in the fact that some officials worship only power and show no respect for the interest of the people. In their eyes, they, as Party members and officials, get their power from their superiors or from the Party. As a result, they are only loyal to their superiors.

This tends to develop into a vicious circle. Officials, who have climbed the ladder of hierarchy, like this deputy chief of urban planning in Zhengzhou, are likely to forget they are working for the people.

This scandal should serve as a warning that something must be done to remind government officials over and over that they are provided for by taxpayers and must work in their interest.

(China Daily 06/20/2009 page4)