 |
|
 |
Large Medium Small |
Congratulations to those running www.703804.com. Uneasy as they are, local authorities are now trying to make amends with the website, dubbed the “nongovernmental xinfang, or complaint, bureau” by fans and users. A platform to discuss local government affairs that made a name for itself by breaking major scandals of fraud in government offices, the site can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Since it was established seven years ago, the site has been in a “guerilla war” with local government officials. Authorities have tried to mute the site, which allows users to air their complaints about local governments or expose alleged scandals by officials. After changing its locations and servers 17 times in China, the desperate operators moved their servers to Canada, where they found “relative peace”.
They are now back at home, an outcome of a change in attitude and approach of authorities. Local officials are no longer trying to shut it down. Instead, they are making efforts to communicate.
This is a win-win situation for everyone. The public can retain a forum to express their concerns. The operators can live without worries.
The biggest winner, however, are the local authorities. Shutting down a website without convincing reasons will deprive citizens of their constitutional right of free speech. There are no benefits to authorities in suppressing the spread of negative information by shutting down a website, not to mention they would lose all their credibility in doing so.
Seen from a different perspective, such a website can provide invaluable information to local administrators to improve their governance. There are plenty of official xinfang establishments charged specifically with listening to the voice of the people and their complaints about the government. Bureaucratic red tape has effectively prevented them from becoming the expected channel of information on government performance. The nongovernmental website can offer precious information if the authorities are truly into improving their work.
