The Chengguan Guide: Don’t let the public see you using violence to control the target, see any blood on the target’s face, or see injury marks on his body. When there is nobody around, complete a chain of super-fast actions against the target in one shot, leaving no trace to be seen. [1]
How can some chengguan (urban management) officers be so ruthless and barbaric with street peddlers or those who they believe have violated urban management rules? No one would believe that they are actually taught to enforce the law in such a manner.Yet, part of a book for the training of chengguan officers posted online seems to have corroborated what we hate to believe - "instructions" on how they should "physically subdue offenders as swiftly as possible without leaving blood stains on their faces and bruises on their bodies".
Chengguan officers are an outreach of local law enforcement establishments and they are supposed to deal with such matters as illicit makeshift buildings and unlicensed street peddlers. They have earned themselves a bad name over the years for the lack of respect while checking violators.
Despite the explanation from Beijing chengguan authorities, that this book has never been used in the training of their officers as they had found it problematic immediately after its publication, many Internet users still find it outrageous.
They further explained that chengguan officers needed to learn how to defend themselves against violence from violators who show resistance, but the book had never been used as a textbook for training but only for Internal reference.
It is sadly true that a chengguan officer was stabbed to death by a street peddler several years ago. However, what the book teaches is not a defensive strategy. It clearly asks the officers to physically subdue street peddlers whether or not they pose a threat to them. The fact that it encourages violence, as long as there are no bruises, speaks volumes of its dark nature.
Violent resistance against law enforcement is rare. No street peddler would be stupid enough to have a fatal weapon ready to swing at officers.
What we see more often is a street peddler running as fast as he can as soon as he knows chengguan officers are about to show.
Because of their power as law enforcers, chengguan officers are more likely to abuse their power, which has been verified by the increasing number of complaints against them.
The question is: where do you draw the line when it comes to chengguan officers' power?
And the notion must be brought home to them they have been asked to enforce the law to maintain an orderly and harmonious urban environment.
The problematic instructions exposed online are undoubtedly against this principle. If instructed so, chengguan officers will only create more problems for urban management rather than achieve what they are expected to.
Hopefully, the current debate about the instructions will be a reminder to governments at all levels that urban management officers must be well educated to know the difference between right and wrong.
Some Chinese Netizens’ Comments:
- zcs0209
Public = Enemy?? ?
- tcj1989
Hitler is back to life?
- jbtob
How dare you! Obviously this is targeting and against the public. Chengguan, who told you to do this? Confess! Leniency to those who confess their crimes and severity to those who refuse to do so! [Editor’s comments: Chinese police always say ‘Leniency to those who confess their crimes and severity to those who refuse to do so!’ during interrogation]
- Caokui
(Chengguan are) soldiers from the Special Forces…
- yinzenweibao
(It) might come from the Gestapo’s professional theory book. The National Administrative Institute is so amazing.
- lihuali
It’s outrageous! Outrageous! A book published by the National Administrative Institute does not tell people how to enforce the law in a civilized manner and respect citizen’s basic human rights, but to teach how to ‘kill people without blood’ and ‘commit crimes without leaving a trace.’ What they lost here is not just the basic consciousness of a human being. They are bold and reckless, treating the law as nothing!
- seizetheday
If we had this book published 50 years ago and let each Chinese get a copy, who would need to spend eight years to fight the Japanese during the Second World War?
- jasonwell
No more mask (on the government’s face)?
- tiangangwu
‘Quick and clean.’ ‘Without any trace.’ That’s how to handle the enemy.
- waimaidaole
God, do they still have human nature? We are not the enemy but regular people. How come they spend so much time and effort to come up with ways to deal with us? Please tell me where’s the dignity for a Chinese citizen? Will there be a massacre following this?
- fanqie
The government said that they will enforce the law openly and justly, that they will make people foremost, and that they will serve for the people wholeheartedly. All those sayings were just lip service. Their administrative strategy is to treat people as if they are treating enemies.
- fofo
Wow! What a ‘when there is nobody around.’ Being nice when there is people watching and switch to violence when not seen? ‘Quick and clean.’ ‘Leaving no trace.’ Goose bumps…
- hbhujunbo
The fierce officials come to my town, yelling in the north and south, crashing in the east and west. People are scared and shutting up, even the dogs and cocks can’t have quiet lives. The ancient writer said an ‘oppressive government is more fearsome than a tiger.’ Now under the Communist Party’s great effort on constructing a harmonious society, we have something to compete with it. That’s the ‘chengguan is more fearsome than a tiger.’ Right?”
Endnote:
[1] “The First Textbook on Chengguan law enforcement: ‘Chengguan Law Enforcement and Operation Practice’,” Nanfang Weekends, April 21, 2009, http://www.infzm.com/content/27264
Sources:
China Daily
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2009-04/24/content_7710586.htm
Chinascope:
http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/1595/92/