An official and a police officer have been suspended from their posts after allegedly handcuffing a 13-year-old girl and parading her through the streets of Kele township in Hezhang county, Guizhou Province.
Local authorities have announced an investigation into the incident, after Web users uploaded photos of the scene last week, in which the teenager, Rao Yao, was forced to walk up and down for 20 minutes after splashing water on a government vehicle, the Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.
Kele Party chief Yuan Zehong and local police officer Chen Song are both under investigation, Xinhua reported.
"Investigators arrived in the township on Monday afternoon, and leaders in the publicity department are cooperating with them at the moment," a female staff member from Kele township government told the Global Times Tuesday. She said she had no idea how long the investigation will take.
Yuan told the news portal chengdu.cn Monday afternoon that the incident happened on March 30, when local government workers were checking street stalls, and became involved in a dispute with Rao's family. Because Rao seemed tall, they did not realize she was a juvenile.
He confirmed Rao was handcuffed, but denied she was paraded through the streets; rather they were just escorting her to a police car.
The dispute with Rao's family was caused by an umbrella on their stall being slightly out of line. When Rao's father refused to move it, an argument broke out. Two female government employees, including a deputy township head, Wang Mei, shot videos as evidence, according to a statement from Kele township government to chengdu.cn.
Rao apparently poured a basin of water toward the car, which splashed Wang, who was then allegedly slapped and physically assaulted by Rao's family, including her aunt. Police and Yuan were called to the scene to deal with the situation. Rao was taken to the police car, and her aunt lay on the ground shouting, said the statement.
Despite the provocation, the actions of the local officials are an abuse of power, said Zhu Lijia, a professor with the National Academy of Governance.
"They have violated Rao's humanity and human rights. Even for juvenile delinquency, we have measures to protect their legal rights, not even to mention little girls," he said.
"This incident reflects that power to overrule laws is deeply rooted in the minds of some officials, as well as a lack of morality. The regulations and laws are there but they are just not effectively implemented," Zhu noted.
Modern movie dream in retro Mingguo street
Feedback
RSS
