DATE=4/7/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43041
TITLE=CHINA / CORRUPTION
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA'S CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS CRACKING DOWN ON
CORRUPTION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS ARE NOT
EXEMPT FROM PUNISHMENT FOR ABUSING THEIR POWER. AS V-O-A'S
STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, CORRUPTION HAS BEEN COMPARED TO A CANCER
THAT THREATENS CHINA'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.
TEXT: IN HIS STATE-OF-CHINA REPORT TO THE PARLIAMENT LAST MONTH,
CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI CALLED FOR CLEAN GOVERNMENT --
COMMENTS WHICH ALSO SERVED AS A WARNING TO LOCAL OFFICIALS.
// ZHU AND INTERPRETER ACT //
ALL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES SHOULD FIRMLY KEEP IN MIND THE FACT
THAT THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND WORK DILIGENTLY AND
WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR THE PEOPLE.
// END ACT //
MR. ZHU CATALOGED ABUSES OF POWER BY BUREAUCRATS AROUND THE
COUNTRY AS ONE OF CHINA'S MAIN PROBLEMS.
// ZHU AND INTERPRETER ACT //
ARBITRARY CHARGES, FUNDRAISING, QUOTAS AND FINES ARE STILL A
PREVALENT PROBLEM DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO PUT A STOP TO SUCH
PRACTICES, RESULTING IN INTOLERABLE BURDENS ON FARMERS AND
ENTERPRISES IN CERTAIN AREAS.
// END ACT //
THE CAMPAIGN STARTED WITH FORMER BEIJING MAYOR AND COMMUNIST
PARTY SECRETARY CHEN XITONGHE'S CORRUPTION CONVICTION AND 16-YEAR
JAIL SENTENCE LAST YEAR. HE IS THE HIGHEST-RANKING OFFICIAL TO
HAVE BEEN SNARED IN THE COUNTRY'S ANTI-CORRUPTION NET.
IN RECENT WEEKS, THOUGH, CHINA'S STATE-RUN MEDIA HAVE INTENSIFIED
THEIR COVERAGE OF OFFICIAL WRONGDOING -- ALTHOUGH, SINCE CHEN
XITONG'S CASE, ONLY MID-LEVEL CADRES HAVE BEEN SENTENCED.
THE COUNTRY'S MAIN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, THE "PEOPLE'S DAILY," SAYS
INVESTIGATIONS FOUND LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN HEBEI, HUBEI AND SHANXI
PROVINCES USED STATE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR DIKES AND ROADS TO BUILD
LUXURY HOTELS. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THESE BUREAUCRATS MISUSED WHAT
IT TERMS, THE PEOPLE'S BLOOD-AND-SWEAT MONEY -- MORE THAN 120
MILLION DOLLARS -- AND WILL BE DEALT WITH HARSHLY.
MEANTIME, CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION SUNDAY REPORTED THAT A COURT
IN SOUTHWEST CHINA'S CHONGQING MUNICIPALITY SENTENCED LIN SHIYUAN
TO DEATH FOR HIS ROLE IN A BRIDGE COLLAPSE THAT KILLED 40 PEOPLE.
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIAL WAS CONVICTED FOR TAKING BRIBES AND
FOR DERELICTION OF DUTY.
THE COLLAPSE OF THE RAINBOW BRIDGE HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL CORRUPTION
AND SHODDY CONSTRUCTION IN CHINA'S PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. THESE
ISSUES WERE RAISED DURING SEVERE FLOODING LAST YEAR, WHEN THE
CHINESE PREMIER MADE HIS NOW-FAMOUS CRITICISM OF LOCAL
AUTHORITIES, SAYING A COLLAPSED DIKE APPEARED AS IF IT WERE MADE
OUT OF TURTLE EGGS AND BEAN CURD.
MR. ZHU SAID OFFICIAL CORRUPTION IS ONE PROBLEM THE GOVERNMENT
WILL CONTINUE TO COMBAT.
// ZHU AND INTERPRETER ACT //
SOME UNDESIRABLE PRACTICES AND CORRUPTION ARE STILL SERIOUS AND
THE PUBLIC ORDER IN SOME AREAS IS NOT GOOD. WE ARE PAYING VERY
CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND ARE TAKING MEASURES TO
GRADUALLY RESOLVE THEM.
// END ACT //
THE SAFETY OF PUBLIC PROJECTS HAS TAKEN ON GREATER URGENCY THIS
YEAR AS CHINA HAS TURNED TO INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING TO SPUR THE
ECONOMY AMID FLAGGING CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT.
THE PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION IS ALSO LINKED TO ANOTHER OVER-RIDING
ISSUE FOR CHINESE LEADERS, THE MAINTENANCE OF SOCIAL STABILITY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC
07-Apr-99 4:00 AM EDT (0800 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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