Peng’s case

In 2006, Qin, a clerk of the County Education Committee, the father of a 5-year-old boy, a literature graduate who was once a middle school teacher, a thin scholar who loved dancing and writing, and a Chinese common man, filled out a song on August 15. The poem "Qinyuanchun·Peng". The content is about several socially sensational events that occurred in the county, but anyone familiar with Pengshui officialdom can interpret the metaphors of some leaders of the county government. Qin forwarded it to other friends through text messages and QQ. He never expected that half a month later, the police would come to his door. This text message, which he was so proud of, would actually be sent to jail. The Pengshui County Public Security Bureau sent him to jail on suspicion of "defamation." to the detention center.

The jingle goes like this: "When did Peng Shui become corrupt? How much do you know about the past? Baiyun Middle School had a miscarriage, the friends' roads are getting worse and worse, the students have all run away from the teacher... A river flows downward."

As the saying goes, "If you don't do anything wrong, don't be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door." What era is it now, or is it still an era of "literary prison" where Qingfeng is illiterate?

Citizens' criticism of the ills of the times is a way of expression, not to mention text message limericks without naming names. When leaders see it, they will change it and encourage it. The reasons for singling out responsibility are too far-fetched. A harmonious society needs criticism. Some experts have analyzed that the side of "harmony" is "mouth", which is a person's mouth; "harmony" is the edge of "yan", which means speaking. A "quan" is "everyone". Civic expression is part of a harmonious society. Why are you being sued? If the county leaders insist that he has defamed them, they can just file a lawsuit themselves. If both parties believe that the text message has damaged their personality and reputation and caused serious consequences, they should directly file a criminal lawsuit with the People's Court. At the same time, a minimum principle is that the investigative agencies, the review and prosecution agencies and the people's courts that ultimately hear the case should collectively avoid handling the case.

The "Peng Shui Poetry Case" is obviously illegal. The citizens' concern for local current affairs is a kind of enthusiasm, and they also show some kind advice from Pengshui people deep in their hearts. Even if Qin accidentally revealed some social realities in Pengshui County, he would not be at fault. At most, he would be punished as a civil servant. This is like "netizen speech" which is very popular on the Internet now. Although it is suspected of being biased, it is also a "channel for people's voice."

The "Pengshui Poetry Case" touched the tiger's butt and offended the official authority. The undesirable consequence of this case is that as grassroots citizens, no one will dare to make irresponsible remarks against officials in the future, and the voices of the people may be silenced by "severe crackdowns."

Will a silent county be a county with prosperous public opinion?

I can’t help but think of the “Two Sessions Chinese and Foreign Press Conference” in March this year. Premier Wen went online specifically to listen to public opinions. The central government can pay attention to the expressions of diverse interest groups. Why can't some small counties run "lime poems"?