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Create accountability

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-13 08:38

To avoid problems with forced demolitions, the government should set up a sound system of accountability and implement it strictly, says an article in the Beijing News. Excerpts:

Over the past three years, the media have found that in many cases officials in charge of illegal demolitions haven't been punished at all. Some low level officials who resigned have been reappointed soon afterward, while a few who resorted to forced demolition have even been promoted.

There are three main problems with our current accountability system. First, after the incident, the officials who are punished according to the rules are always low-level staff. Second, any demotion is always temporary and symbolic; the demoted officials are always reinstated soon after the public forgets the scandal. Third, officials who are accountable for the demolition seldom learn a lesson from their punishment, and some of them even don't feel guilty at all.

Accountability is crucial to our society. Improper punishment of the responsible officials may encourage other officials to abuse their power, and may also force residents who are forced to relocate to turn to violence. To end problems with forced demolitions, the authorities should establish a sound accountability system and implement it strictly.

(China Daily 04/13/2010 page9)