November 30,2012
By Zhang Dian

Editors from the EO's Chinese website publish a daily collection of extracts from commentary pieces that have appeared in the mainland press over recent days. The EO's English team then translates a selection of these opinion pieces.

Billionaire Village Official
Introduction: Recently, a village official named Zhou Weisi (周伟思) in the Nanlian neighborhood of Shenzhen (深圳南联社区) was accused of owning 80 homes, 20 cars and 2 billion yuan. Zhou told Xinhua News that he did have a large fortune, but not as vast as what he was being accused of. Between 1999 and 2010, Zhou reported to the community office having 64 private properties amounting to 110,000 square meters under his name. His family, including his wife and sons, owned 76 properties altogether.  

The person who reported Zhou’s assets was arrested for alleged commercial fraud.

Commentary:
It is the community residents’ right to decide whether the rich can be community officials and whether they should make their assets transparent. As long as superior administrators put pressure on the lower levels, it will be natural for community officials to make their assets public.
Beijing News (新京报)
Original article: [Chinese]

Since public opinion is involved, both the local police and the Supervisory Bureau (监察局) should take responsibility to have a sound investigation and answer the public’s questions.
Southern Metropolis(南方都市报)
Original article: [Chinese]

The success of online campaigns against corruption just reflects the problems with the current anti-corruption system. How can we transfer the power from the internet to the official system? How can we realize the supervision of officials? More discussion is needed.
Jing News(晶报)
Original article: [Chinese]

                                                    Zhou Weisi

“Nutritious Lunch” Comes Up Short
Introduction: The “Nutritious Lunch” (营养午餐) government subsidized-meal program is meant to give children in poverty-stricken areas adequate nutrition. Recently a Weibo post by a university student named Liang (小梁) revealed the truth about the program in Fenghuang County of Hunnan Province (湖南凤凰县). The kids received a box of milk and a hand-size piece of bread for lunch, which was only worth about 2 yuan. But the subsidy given by the government is supposed to be 3 yuan per lunch for each student. “The children’s lunch is getting worse!” Liang wrote. “Only one slice of toast with 6 cm in diameter! How can you let the children starve? Is the lunch worth 3 yuan?”

Taiwan’s nutritious lunch program has been contrasted as a positive example. Each lunch includes three dishes, one soup and some fruit. The menu is changed every month to prevent kids from feeling bored with specific dishes. Most school kids in Taiwan expressed their satisfaction with the program.

Commentary:
The problems with Nutritious Lunch have floated to the top, but the local government has done nothing to change the situation. This is no doubt abnormal. In fact, the problematic Nutritious Lunch is just like a sign of corruption, which is worth a sound investigation.
Beijing News(新京报)
Original article: [Chinese]

Should we make some changes to the Nutritious Lunch? Should we let social organizations take over the operations of the program and only let the government do the financing? Perhaps it is time that we reform the Nutritious Lunch system.
Southern Metropolis (南方都市报)
Original article: [Chinese]

To achieve its expectation, the Nutritious Lunch program needs a standard on price and supervision. The government should, for example, make food purchases transparent under people’s supervision and punish misappropriations and other problems. Only by doing these things can the students in rural areas really benefit from the Nutritious Lunch.
Huaxi Metropolis (华西都市报)
Original article: [Chinese]
 

                                          Lei Zhengfu

Anti-Corruption Systems
Introduction: Lei Zhengfu (雷政富), the party secretary of Beipei District in Chongqing, was confirmed as the man having sex with an 18-year-old girl in a widely-circulated online video. The girl was allegedly sent by a real estate company as a form of bribery, while she was also told to secretly film the encounter so the company would have leverage over Lei. The reporter who revealed the video has said he has five more sex tapes with other officials – four of whom are still in their positions. 

Commentary
Would Lei Zhengfu’s case still have received attention from the Discipline Inspection Commission if these disgraceful photos were deleted, the online voices were banned or the photos didn’t spread widely? What can we do to make supervision more effective?
Dongfang Daily (东方早报)
Original article: [Chinese]

We must strengthen and improve the legal system, making the punishment and costs of corruption greater than the expected returns. The establishment and perfection of the basic norms of the system, together with official property declaration and publicity, will finally lead to a suppression of corruption.
Huashang News (华商报)
Original article: [Chinese]