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Whistle-blowers given protection

By Huang Zhiling (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-25 07:39

Huang Rui (not his real name), a resident of Chongqing municipality, had valuable information for authorities about how a government official had abused his power in approving a local land deal.

In the past, Huang may have hesitated before stepping forward, for fear of retribution from the government office.

However, the local procuratorate has recently taken steps to encourage informants like Huang to share what they know.

Huang was taken to the new "whistleblower's center" of the first branch of the Chongqing municipal people's procuratorate.

He sat in a small private room with no windows.

After he was assured that there was no video camera or recording equipment in the room, Huang revealed his information to two procurators.

His report helped them successfully crack the case of abuse of power by a high-ranking local official.

Yang Yi, chief of the procuratorate's accusation and appeal section, said the new room was part of broader effort to encourage whistle-blowers.

"The first branch has launched the system of protecting whistle-blowers, if they are under threat because of their report," Yang said.

In addition to the new whistle-blower's room, which opened earlier this year, other steps are being taken.

"We will send policemen to protect whistle-blowers around the clock," Yang said.

The new system appears to be having an impact.

Huang is one of nearly 100 informants who have submitted reports to the branch since the protection system was adopted in February, according to the branch's records.

Yu Jie, chief of the first branch, said the number of clues provided by whistle-blowers has risen by 55 per cent over the same period last year.

Chongqing residents have said these efforts deal with an important concern.

"Being a whistle-blower can be dangerous," Zhang Jian, a Chongqing resident, said.

"We are gratified because the first branch protects whistle-blowers."

Whistle-blowers also play a role in cracking cases elsewhere.

Mu Ping, chief of the Beijing municipal people's procuratorate, said about 11,000 clues pertaining to job-related crimes by officials in the municipality have been provided by whistle-blowers in the past five years.

Also the Guangzhou people's procuratorate said earlier nearly 80 percent of cases pertaining to job-related crimes by officials were set in motion by information from whistle-blowers.