On September 19, the People's Daily reported on an
ongoing conflict between principles laid out in the Constitution of
China and the actions of local authorities across the country, in
particular a failure to separate judicial and executive powers in
local law enforcement.
Local actions using what is termed “joint enforcement of law”
invite local people's courts to take part in law enforcement
alongside local authorities. They can involve them in arresting
suspects, maintaining social order and relocating residents, and
the People's Daily said they were a common phenomenon
across the country.
According to the report, they were so ordinary as to often be
unquestioned, despite contradicting the national constitution.
The paper reported that the government and Party committee of
Wannian County, in the southeastern province of Jiangxi,
have jointly issued a document forbidding “joint enforcement of
law” actions, though it did not specify when.
The article said many local authorities invite court officials
to help with anything from removing residents in order to rebuild
old districts to environmental inspections. Because people tend to
be more in awe of procurators and judges, the actions are thought
to have a greater chance of success with their participation.
The constitution prescribes that people's courts should
independently exercise their jurisdiction without interference from
any executive body. Even court enforcement officers, who ensure
courts' decisions are carried out, can only exercise their powers
according to the judgment or arbitration of the court.
The People's Daily said inviting court officials to
take part in law enforcement not only confused jurisdictions and
powers, but also violated the Constitution.
In March 2004, the Supreme People's Court issued a notice urging
courts at all levels to pay more attention to their neutrality and
independence, specifying that they should refuse to take part in
“joint enforcement of law” actions.
Yet, more than a year later, most local authorities have failed
to forbid “joint enforcement of law” actions.
The article questioned why court officials do not refuse
invitations to get involved in law enforcement, speculating that
this role has simply become normalized to them, and that close
relationships between judicial and administrative officials mean
they are glad to do a “favor” for them.
Since actions using “joint enforcement of law” upset the normal
balance of power and cannot provide protection for people whose
legal rights are infringed by them, the People's Daily
described the Wannian authorities' decision as being profound in
helping to ensure the neutrality and independence of people's
courts.
(China.org.cn by Wang Ke, September 22, 2005)