Transparency lesson for local officials

Tibetan antelopes migrate in June in Hoh Xil, one of the largest remaining natural habitats for wild animals in the world. [Photo/Xinhua]

ON FRIDAY, a video was spread online, showing two SUVs chasing wild antelopes in the Tibet autonomous region. Two days later, the local authorities said they had found those involved and fined them 105,000 yuan ($15,900). Beijing Youth Daily comments:

Actually, before announcing their final decision, the local authorities responded to public concerns by saying the suspects had already received their deserved penalty, without giving any details.

That response aroused fiercer public discussion, with many criticizing the authorities for not making a full disclosure of what punishments they had meted out. Antelopes are protected species, and the two SUVs that chased them had already driven into a protected area. They violated public interests and people have the right to know what penalties they received for doing so.

Eventually, the local authorities published all the details about the case, including the information that the antelopes are afraid of humans, and when chased they will run at full speed, which might cause their hearts to give out. That is why people are strictly prohibited from chasing after antelopes or trying to scare them. That move received warm welcome nationwide.

Local authorities should learn the lesson from the incident that transparency creates trust. When they publish all the information about cases involving public interests, it is easier to gain the trust of the public. While, to the contrary, when they try to conceal anything, they arouse suspicions: Will the suspects receive their deserved penalty? Does the case involve any trade under the table?

Some argue that the suspects also had the right to privacy. However, the public did not require the names of the suspects or their personal information; instead, the public wanted to know they had been appropriately punished for their deeds that violated the public's interests.

It is time all local authorities nationwide learned to be more transparent in their jobs.