Mainland internet users are up in arms after pictures of a series of luxurious new prisons were posted online this week, a stark contrast to the shabbily built “tofu” schools that collapsed in last year’s Sichuan earthquake trapping more than 5,000 children.
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Online fury at life of luxury in prisons
Fiona Tam
28 November 2009
They come with sumptuous sports facilities, meandering water features and even buildings in the style of the White House, but they are not government offices, corporate headquarters or new schools.
Mainland internet users are up in arms after pictures of a series of luxurious new prisons were posted online this week, a stark contrast to the shabbily built “tofu” schools that collapsed in last year’s Sichuan earthquake trapping more than 5,000 children.
The pick of the bunch was Yancheng prison in Jiangsu, whose main building borrowed from the design of the White House. It also contained a conference hall, plush offices and a sports field complete with a running track.
Elsewhere, a prison in Suzhou had six basketball courts, sophisticated gardens and even an artificial river.
Many internet users were shocked that inmates, especially corrupt cadres, were confined in such luxury. Others noted that the officials, notoriously keen to feather their nest, also appeared to have been prepared for when they got caught.
“I couldn’t have imagined the jails were so comfortable that I would like to spend my holidays there,” one wrote. “Those luxury prisons are outstanding and their environment, with lush lawns and gardens, are much better than many luxury apartments.”
A spokesman from Yancheng prison confirmed the pictures were taken inside the institution, but he explained that the comfortable environment could accelerate inmates’ reform through labour. Meanwhile, the Prison Administrative Bureau in Beijing said all prisons were built according to guidelines, the Beijing News reported.
The media reported that many imprisoned cadres continued to enjoy a privileged life behind bars.
Former Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu reportedly had a 20-square-metre, en suite cell. Newspapers claimed he was provided four meals a day, including a late-night snack, which cost 6,000 yuan (HK$6,800) a month - double the average income in Shanghai. He was able to enjoy cigarettes, chocolate and other luxury goods.
Chengdu official Ma Jianguo reportedly went out for private banquets, slept at home and freely used a mobile phone during his jail term. Anhui cadre Cao Xiaoming apparently continued to receive his salary six months after he was jailed.
The media reported that prison officers colluded with or served corrupt cadres who were able to offer bribes.
Beijing commentator Ruan Zhanjiang said luxury prisons were illogical and should not be tolerated. “It’s common sense that someone who is found guilty by the courts should be punished and live a tough life in prison rather than in a luxurious resort,” he said. “Prisons shouldn’t challenge the laws and public tolerance, let alone become an attraction.”
The comfortable cells are in a sharp contrast to shabbily built schools in Sichuan, where more than 7,000 classrooms were destroyed in the magnitude 8 quake last year
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