Anti-graft watchdog to scrutinise cadres with children abroad
Minnie Chan 20 September 2009
The Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog yesterday said it would step up supervision of cadres who have children living abroad.
It would also require cadres to report the properties, investment and jobs of their children and spouses in a move to clean up the party. The announcement was made as the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection closed its fourth plenum.
But analysts said the move was just another weak attempt to clean up government, introduced because of mounting public unhappiness over rampant corruption.
The four-day keynote plenary session of the Central Committee ended in Beijing on Friday.
To the surprise of political analysts, it did not appoint Vice-President Xi Jinping vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, but instead repeated its pledge to work to make the internal selection of cadres more transparent.
The communique issued by the graft watchdog largely consisted of cliches, but it did include a few details on how the government would try to eliminate corruption.
It said the watchdog would clamp down on the sale of official posts.
“We should punish cadres who look for seats in the government, officials who buy and sell official posts or involvement in other bribery deals,” the communique read.
“All those measures should be implemented from the grass roots to top levels throughout our party.”
The communique also promised to punish senior officials involved in the abuse of power, those who lived degenerate lifestyles and those guilty of commercial crimes.
The anti-graft watchdog also promised to investigate corruption that sparked massive protests and major accidents.
Hong Kong-based political commentator Johnny Lau Yui-sui said he doubted if the measures would help.
“I don’t think these kinds of pledges would help the party to deal with corruption and so-called internal political reform,” Lau said. “It was because many of our top leaders’ children and spouses have been subject to complaints about their involvement in big commercial deals.
“I don’t find these proposals very exciting. There are pledges at these plenaries year after year.”
Last year, a Wenzhou official, Yang Xianghong, refused to return from France after an official trip. The party secretary of Lucheng district claimed that he was visiting his daughter and attempts to bring him back failed. He was sacked and his wife was held on corruption charges.
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Anti-graft watchdog to scrutinise cadres with children abroad
Minnie Chan
20 September 2009
The Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog yesterday said it would step up supervision of cadres who have children living abroad.
It would also require cadres to report the properties, investment and jobs of their children and spouses in a move to clean up the party. The announcement was made as the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection closed its fourth plenum.
But analysts said the move was just another weak attempt to clean up government, introduced because of mounting public unhappiness over rampant corruption.
The four-day keynote plenary session of the Central Committee ended in Beijing on Friday.
To the surprise of political analysts, it did not appoint Vice-President Xi Jinping vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, but instead repeated its pledge to work to make the internal selection of cadres more transparent.
The communique issued by the graft watchdog largely consisted of cliches, but it did include a few details on how the government would try to eliminate corruption.
It said the watchdog would clamp down on the sale of official posts.
“We should punish cadres who look for seats in the government, officials who buy and sell official posts or involvement in other bribery deals,” the communique read.
“All those measures should be implemented from the grass roots to top levels throughout our party.”
The communique also promised to punish senior officials involved in the abuse of power, those who lived degenerate lifestyles and those guilty of commercial crimes.
The anti-graft watchdog also promised to investigate corruption that sparked massive protests and major accidents.
Hong Kong-based political commentator Johnny Lau Yui-sui said he doubted if the measures would help.
“I don’t think these kinds of pledges would help the party to deal with corruption and so-called internal political reform,” Lau said. “It was because many of our top leaders’ children and spouses have been subject to complaints about their involvement in big commercial deals.
“I don’t find these proposals very exciting. There are pledges at these plenaries year after year.”
Last year, a Wenzhou official, Yang Xianghong, refused to return from France after an official trip. The party secretary of Lucheng district claimed that he was visiting his daughter and attempts to bring him back failed. He was sacked and his wife was held on corruption charges.
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