Editorials

Walk the talk

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-24 07:56

The recent frank remarks uttered by a top ranking police official concerning the public security department's need for introspection and self-regulation is an overdue acknowledgement of public worry regarding high-handed police conduct.

National police chief Meng Jianzhu's assessment will assuage public concern that those at the top are aware of the goings-on at public security departments across the nation.

The public is chiefly worried about law enforcement officers' blatant disregard of the law, Meng told his colleagues. He urged policemen to work towards regaining credibility, citing the "extreme importance" of measures aimed at rooting out corruption in their ranks.

Meng said the process of law-enforcement should be made as transparent as possible in order to facilitate public oversight. Justice must not only be done, but must also be "seen" as being done, he stressed

The conviction of Zhao Zuohai on charges of "murder" - which later proved untrue - and his release, has rekindled public awareness about the lack of rigor in law-enforcement. It was found that torture played a big role in his "confession."

Zhao's is only the latest in a series of public relations debacles for the police department.

Change is the top priority, and Meng indicated that the department has felt the urgency now to clean up its stables.

Such exhortations and assurances, however, have been dime a dozen, and it has become formulaic whenever the department has come under fire.

The only way to get people to respect law enforcement officials is to walk the talk.

(China Daily 05/24/2010 page8)