Shanxi Governor Yu Youjun on Wednesday held himself responsible
for the forced labor in his province's illegally run brick kilns
and mines.
Other high-ranking officials have also very recently felt the
need to apologize for major accidents harming the rights and
interests of ordinary citizens.
At a time when other Shanxi officials closer to the crimes have
yet to apologize, we appreciate the governor's courage. We take his
self-criticism as a solemn vow that he and his colleagues will do
everything possible to bring justice to both those behind the slave
labor and their victims.
We hope carefully considered action will follow words as the
operations behind the forced labor have yet to be fully uncovered.
Forced laborers of unknown number, both adults and children, may
still be suffering, and officials who have shielded the notorious
business have yet to be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to prevent forced labor from recurring,
the State Council has demanded a nationwide investigation of
laborers in small brickworks and mines.
The high-profile attention to the fate of disadvantaged people
should drive home the message that anyone who dares to trample the
law and violate human rights will be properly punished.
The lesson from the forced labor scandal should be that similar
tragedies will not be repeated in our society, a civilized society
under the rule of law.
While the country achieves one economic miracle after another, a
growing income gap, poverty and unemployment are also the facts of
life. Disadvantaged people - even those who are not trapped in
forced labor - may be desperate enough to work under intolerable
conditions.
Loopholes in implementing laws and safeguarding laborers'
interests at the local level make the situation even worse. More
seriously, dereliction of duty and corruption constantly appear
behind major accidents.
In recent years, sweeping investigations and crackdowns have
followed tragic accidents. The only way to keep these
well-intentioned national campaigns from being short-lived lies in
the political will to uphold the power of the law at all
levels.
(China Daily June 22, 2007)