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When Internet vigilantism becomes libel to some

By Fan Zhengwei | China Daily | Updated: 2009-12-09 07:59

Recently, the public has been concerned about how Internet vigilantes are dealt with by the government.

Following online allegations that Ms Liu Lijie, a chief prosecutor from Inner Mongolia, used an expensive SUV and built a luxury office building, the investigation results from the local Party disciplinary committee show that she had borrowed the car from a company and there was nothing unusual about the new office building. Her office has determined the online exposure as "libel". Meanwhile, it was alleged online that a senior Party law official in Fuxin city used drugs and engaged in sexual orgies. Police have detained Shangguan Hongxiang, a delegate to the local People's Congress, who blew the whistle, on charges of slander and framing.

But I doubt if the cases were handled properly. For example, if Liu borrowed the car, who did she borrow from? Was such borrowing legal? Was the exposure of such behavior "libel"? Then was it correct to let the Fuxin police investigate their chief? Was the police investigation independent and objective?

When Internet vigilantism becomes libel to some

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