A dose of rationality needed in grave removal campaign

Source:Global Times Published: 2012-11-24 1:20:06

The grave wrecking campaign in Zhoukou, Henan Province, has sparked huge controversy and been attacked by Chinese media. Local authorities said they would continue this campaign and use the land, once recovered, for farming.

The strong public opposition is understandable, but the local authorities' intention might not be totally "selfish" as alleged by the media.

The conflict in the case demonstrates once again the intense friction between individual freedom and realist restrictions of Chinese society.

Land scarcity in Central and East China has been greatly intensified by the nation's rapid development. Zhoukou's grave removal campaign, even if there are other objectives behind it, still relates to urgent demand brought by rapid development. Such a demand is linked to everybody's interest.

However, it is already a fact that public opinions, especially among Web users, tend to impose harsh criticism on the government. Officials, for their part, have to interact positively with netizens. Local authorities in Zhoukou, no matter what explanation they give, have seriously irritated microbloggers. It remains to be seen whether they are really able to continue the grave wrecking campaign.

This is only one of the recent examples in which government-dominated projects encounter fierce opposition. So far, the Zhoukou case hasn't led to mass incidents and, according to some local officials, the reaction of the local public was "exaggerated" by scholars and media.

Nevertheless, it's increasingly prominent that the government's ability in carrying out large-scale projects is being challenged by social diversification and the rise of individual pursuits.

Individual interests, even though they may sometimes override public interests or the law, are being encouraged. It is seen as a necessary step to offset government dominance and boost social openness.

This deserves serious consideration, otherwise China's model of reform and opening-up, with government dominance as one important characteristic, will fall into dysfunction. If consensus cannot be reached among various social forces, China may fall into endless debate and stagnation of national development.

Legal rights of individuals must be guaranteed. This was indeed a weakness of Chinese society. However, this should not be confronted with overall social development. A balance between the two must be found.

Previously, the government, with its high authority, was used to quickly mobilizing social forces to carry out large projects and failed to pay enough attention to individual rights. This is an important factor behind the current backlash in public opinion.

However, it is equally problematic if individual rights are seen as the only priority which overwhelms public interest.

If this tendency continues, China will stop being a highly effective society. It might already be impeded by all kinds of individual suggestions and social divisions hindering it from growing into a developed country.

It's important to build a social consensus around maintaining a balance between fairness and efficiency, individual rights and collective interests. Today in the sphere of public opinion, no one is willing or even dares to mention the latter. This deserves our pondering - is this truly in accordance with our long-term interest?

All kinds of slogans are prevailing on China's Internet, and they all appear vivid and infectious. However, if this colossal, complicated nation is simply guided by slogans, its future prospects will not be optimistic.

 



Posted in: Editorial

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