Chinese Official Suspended for Asking "People or Party?"

An official in central China's Henan Province has been suspended
from his post and is under investigation for asking a question that
made "the people" and the Communist Party mutually exclusive, local
authorities said Monday.

"Lu Jun has been suspended for an improper sentence he uttered,
which is contrary to the purpose of the Communist Party of China
(CPC)," Yao Daixian, head of the Organization Department of the CPC
Zhengzhou city committee, told Xinhua.

The CPC Constitution states that the Party represents "the
fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese
people."

However, Lu Jun, urban planning development vice director of
Zhengzhou city, asked a reporter who was investigating a development
issue: "Will you speak for the Party? Or will you speak for the people?"

The report was about a suspicious property scheme in Xigang village
of Zhengzhou, where a developer had permission to build affordable
housing for low-income people. Instead, 12 villas and two mid-rise
buildings were erected.

The reporter of China National Radio recorded Lu's words when questioning him on the issue.

The report was broadcast by the radio station on June 17 and quickly caused a stir on the Internet.

Internet users posted the report and nominated "Will you speak for
the People? or Will you speak for the Party" as the catch-phrase of
2009. Some named Lu "the official who dares most to speak the truth
during 2009."

Internet users also claimed that Lu had Photoshopped Chinese
President Hu Jintao's hairstyle on to his own profile picture posted on
the Zhengzhou government website.

"Lu Jun told me that what he had said did not coincide with the
report," said Yao, adding his bureau had investigated in the property
scheme and Lu's comments. He declined to elaborate.

[via crienglish]