Editors' Note:
Deng Yujiao, a waitress in Badong County in Central China's Hubei Province, stabbed an official to death as she resisted his sexual taunts on May 10. Local police said Deng may have been suffering from depression at the time of the attack. At the hospital she was sent to, for a mental health examination, her wrists, knees and ankles were fastened to the bed, making her unable to move or eat by herself. Most netizens across the nation have sided with the waitress, whereas some warn that the unanimous and overwhelming public opinion may not benefit the carrying out of justice.

 
Let the law judge

Deng's case is, first of all, a political scandal. A couple of government officials went to an entertainment place and forced a waitress to provide sex-related “special services.” This is shocking and ridiculous, reflecting how power can lead officials to defy the law and forget morality. People suspect the case is just the tip of the iceberg: How many other officials in China abuse power and corrupt public morals?

This case has also become a social issue: Public opinion is predominantly leaning in favor of the waitress. Many have suggested Deng be released, and questioned whether justice can truly be served by China's legal system, which is not independent of government power.

The strong compassion for the disadvantaged Deng clouds people's judgment, however.

Both political corruption and irrational public emotions are things we need to discourage. We must acknowledge that a man was killed. This case has to go through the legal process. Political and social forces shouldn't influence how Deng is tried and punished. What is essential is that the legal system is independent, just and transparent.

Changjiang Daily

How to protect the disadvantaged?

If it had been just a common visitor to a house of prostitution that Deng killed, she might have been released or even awarded for her brave action against criminal behavior. Unfortunately, she killed an official, which made the case much more complicated.

There are many reports on the case, but no precise news about Deng's present situation can be found. Police said she suffered from depression, implying that the attack was triggered by her argument with the three officials. This downplays the alleged sexual advances made by the men. People from all over China signed a letter sent to the Ministry of Public Security requesting Deng be acquitted and released immediately, because the officials involved might use their power to further distort the facts about what actually happened.

Whether the public's efforts will achieve their expectations is unknown. All we can do is wait for the results of the final police investigation.

Such efforts, however, are necessary. People who are disadvantaged like Deng need the public's sense of righteousness to protect them. But that's far from enough. We need to do more.

blog.sina.com.cn

Online Responses

Blogger Zhou Zhongming wrote an article, “First, the police don't mention the wad of money at all!

“Second, they allege the weapon was a fruit knife, not a nail clipper!

“This is no small difference because if it is a nail clipper, it shows that the girl was defending herself in a panic with a tool right at hand.

If it is a fruit knife, it implies that the girl took the knife from somewhere else and killed the official on purpose rather than for simple self-defense.

“Further, they allege that medications for a mental condition were found in the girl's bag.

“How vicious a trick to protect the officials' reputation! They can even put the girl into a mental asylum. Everyone knows it is far worse to be in a state madhouse than being given a death sentence.”

A netizen named Lu Guoping says, “It's unnecessary to over-praise Deng. Some people think that she was making a statement to corrupt officials that the disadvantaged are not always weak. However, I think the case has nothing to do with anti-corruption.

“If it were a man in the street who was making sexual taunts, Deng would still have had to stab the person to protect herself. It's just an average case of proper self-defense.”

A netizen named Liu Xiaoyuan says, “Deng's depression must have something to do with her bitter life in the leisure center she worked in. Poor young girls work in such nasty places for subsistence, and most of them gradually surrender to enticement or threats from their guests. Few resist like Deng did.”

Blogger Sun Xiaobo asked: “How come these officials have so much money?

“During the dispute the victim hit the girl on the head with a wad of money. How could a public servant on a salary have so much to spare without any thought or scruple? Was it public funds or embezzled money perhaps?

“How could they visit entertainment venues so frequently and be so obsessed with ‘special services' ?”

The articles on this page were translated by Ao Lin, Chen Chenchen, Li Yanjie and Liu Dong