Only when leaders of various levels show enough concern for the interests of the people will the people-first policies of the central government materialize.

The mayor of Zhuanghe city recently was ordered to resign because of his refusal to show up when more than 1,000 villagers got down on their knees before the city government office building, begging for his help with village leaders they said are corrupt.

If such a city mayor is allowed to maintain his position, the local magistracy under his leadership should no longer be called a "people's government."

President Hu Jintao has reiterated time and again that government leaders must place the people's interests on top of their work agenda. And only when leaders of various levels show enough concern for the interests of the people will the people-first policies of the central government materialize.

But some local government leaders have done just the opposite recently, trying their best to prevent local residents from expressing their concerns and from lodging complaints to higher-up authorities. In several cases, some local governments have sent residents to mental disease asylums after they lodged complaints to higher authorities against them.

It is dangerous for local residents to lose confidence in their governments and it is even more risky for a local government and its leaders to try to gag the voice of its people. Local leaders should be made aware that they are paid by the people, to serve the people, and no reason exists for them to ignore or do anything detrimental to the interests of the people.

In the case of the Zhuanghe mayor, even more severe punishment should be meted out, which will serve as a warning to other local government leaders.