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PRC urban enforcers criticized over murder

Heads of China's nationwide urban inspection force have openly criticized their officers for beating to death a bystander man who filmed a protest, in a rare admission of abuse of power.

Over 100 local leaders of the force, known as the chengguan (城管), issued a joint letter saying the killing in the central city of Tianmen, apparently by chengguan members, had sparked "deep concern and reflection."

"Hawks" among their number regularly "spoke roughly and acted boorishly," wore helmets and body armor and carried handcuffs and other specialized equipment, the statement said.

Their opposites, the "doves," communicated civilly with the public and emphasized education over punishment, said the statement carried on the government prosecutor's office Web site yesterday.

"Practical experience shows that harsh enforcement is a dead end," it said.

Ritual self-criticism has long been a feature of communist political life, but direct attacks on elements of officialdom are unusual and the statement appeared to indicate high-level concern over the effects of the Jan. 7 beating death.

Public outrage over similar abuses in the past have prompted legal changes, including modifications to the country's system of requiring urban residency permits.

Chengguan are a uniformed force charged with enforcing urban planning regulations and clearing streets of unlicensed traders, a role that frequently brings them into conflict with residents.

At least one official has been fired as part of the investigation into the beating death of 41-year-old construction company executive Wei Wenhua (魏文華).

The incident sparked large-scale protests by area residents and was harshly criticized in state media.

Wei was driving by when he spotted a clash between chengguan and residents who were protesting the dumping of garbage near their homes by the local government -- a sensitive situation in China, where dissent is barely tolerated.

He began recording the scene on his cellphone and state media have implied that the chengguan turned on Wei when they saw him. No suspects have been announced.

"Boorish law enforcement ... is an abuse of the spirit of rule of law," the statement said.

"Cursing those you are charged with exercising enforcement over is an illegal act of abuse of human rights, and must ... be strongly opposed," it said.
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