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Law enforcement games

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-29 08:17

As alleged victims swarm to "cheng guan" headquarters to request the return of confiscated vehicles or fines, it is increasingly evident that the use of "baits" in Shanghai's crusade against illicit taxi services has been systematic, if not universal.

As more facts emerge, we are seeing disturbing signs. The alliance and mutual dependence between the local cheng guan officers and those human baits are far more complicated than we have imagined.

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What the alleged former head of a baits group told the Chongqing Evening News, if true, is appalling: while colluding with cheng guan officers to entrap drivers, some baits collected protection fees from illicit taxi drivers. And, the whole thing was done in the name of regulating market order.

Beyond that, some cheng guan officers reportedly took bribes from baits as well as drivers who are anxious to have their confiscated vehicles returned.

And, to our astonishment, the practice is said to have been in existence in Shanghai since the mid-1990s. We are sure the protracted campaign against illegal passenger transport service has achieved some of its proclaimed objects.

But how many innocent citizens have been framed at the same time? We doubt whether anybody can tell. Again, if the head bait was trustworthy, they are surprisingly efficient. They had a record of ensnaring 14 drivers in seven minutes.

Besides disturbing market order and eroding fair competition, unlicensed passenger transport service is associated closely with security concerns. That is why most of us are in favor of the authorities' endeavor to eliminate illegal operators. Yet the lofty end does not justify illicit means. The baits scandal exposed in Shanghai is too outrageous an offence to be tolerated.

The other question is to what extent will the problem be solved. Given their observation that the exposed cases were not isolated, the authorities' logical next move is an all-round review of law enforcement activities. Otherwise, its claimed commitment to justice and rule of law will be in question.

Some may worry that findings from a thorough probe or a major reshuffle may tarnish the authorities' own image, and thus erode public confidence in the government. Yet the outcome will be even worse if that misgiving becomes a reason for inaction.

That a court judge had tried to persuade a victim driver to withdraw his lawsuit against the authorities is a worrisome indication of attempts to contain ripple effects. Yet, trust us, things can only get worse that way.

It is heartening to know that the litigant has refused to retract. There can be no room for compromise on such a matter of principle. And, it matters not only to him.

(China Daily 10/29/2009 page8)