Xinhua News Agency, Nanchang, February 13th (China Web Story reporters Tu Chaohua and Liu Bin) Recently, netizens have posted on forums and microblogs reflecting that a young man in Guixi City, Jiangxi Province, who was seriously injured while bravely fighting with a knife-wielding thug, applied for the honorary title of "acts of righteousness", but was rejected by local relevant departments due to his previous criminal record. This incident has caused netizens to question whether someone with a "blemish" can become a role model, and what considerations were behind the local regulations? China Web Story reporters conducted an investigation.
Because of having a "blemish," the individual's application for the righteous act honor was refused, sparking online discussion. Netizen "Laughing at Life" recently posted on a forum stating that in September 2011, he fought with a knife-wielding robber to save others, and despite being slashed three times, he still pursued the culprit for 10 miles to assist the police in capturing the thug. Afterwards, the Jin Tun Town government of Guixi City took it very seriously and promptly prepared the necessary materials to apply for the honorable title of "acts of righteousness." However, later on, the government staff informed him that because he had a previous criminal record, the honor could not be granted. This netizen stated that at the time of helping others, he did not expect anything in return, but it was hard to accept being rejected due to past "blemishes." Isn't this making heroes bleed and cry?
This online post sparked discussions and doubts among netizens. Weibo user "Carrot Old Man" said: "Nowadays, with such poor social morals, everywhere is advocating upholding social justice and calling for moral return. Rejecting the affirmation of acts of righteousness just because of past 'blemishes' is a form of satire. Such actions are discriminatory and only have negative effects without any benefits in improving the current indifferent social atmosphere."
Netizen "King of Balls Zidane" said: "A hero does not ask about origin. As long as it's good deeds, we should encourage them, even if they come from someone with blemishes. Only in this way will society become more harmonious, and everyone can feel the power of kindness. If doing good deeds after committing past mistakes is not acknowledged, this is a tragedy for society."
On the 11th, the reporter rushed to Jin Tun Town, Guixi City, found Pan Huiqiang, the righteous actor mentioned in the post, and learned about the entire process of Pan Huiqiang's brave fight against the thug.
Qiu Jinhua, who runs a grocery store in Jin Tun Town, told reporters that late on the night of September 7, 2011, a strange man knocked on her store door but did not say what he wanted to buy. Feeling suspicious, Qiu Jinhua refused to open the door citing "closing time." However, the man outside began smashing the store door with a kitchen knife and shouted for money. Soon, a forty to fifty centimeter long opening was hacked into the shop's roll-up gate.
When Qiu Jinhua and her husband felt terrified and screamed for help, neighbor Pan Huiqiang rushed over with a wooden stick to intervene. The thug ran away upon seeing someone coming to help. A police officer who came to arrest the thug was slashed by the man. Seeing this, Pan Huiqiang rushed forward to rescue the officer. During the struggle with the man, Pan Huiqiang was slashed several times on his back, arms, and elbows, bleeding profusely. Afterward, the thug fled, and despite his wounds, Pan Huiqiang chased the thug for more than ten miles until finally subduing him together with the people who came to his aid.
Doctor Pan Xinhua, who was responsible for treating him that night, told reporters that Pan Huiqiang had three knife wounds, the longest about 20 centimeters and the deepest reaching 2 centimeters. He also suffered multiple soft tissue injuries all over his body. Due to excessive blood loss, he went into shock during treatment, and the situation was very dangerous at the time.
Why was the application rejected? Government explanations vary
To promote Pan Huiqiang's righteous deeds, the Jin Tun Town government voluntarily submitted an application report to the relevant departments of Guixi City, applying for the title of "righteous individual" for Pan Huiqiang.
Pan Huiqiang told reporters that about two or three months after the materials were submitted, Deputy Town Mayor Yang Xidong in charge of legal and political work and comprehensive management informed him that due to his previous criminal record, the honor of righteous deeds could not be obtained. Pan Huiqiang said that a few years ago, while working in Fujian, he helped several friends involved in theft by driving their car twice and served nine months in prison as a result.
"At the time of saving others, I didn't think about getting any honors. The title of righteous deeds isn't important to me, but I cannot accept not being recognized because of my past crimes," Pan Huiqiang said. Now, everyone is talking about this matter, as if my past is unforgivable, which makes me feel very sad.
Pan Huiqiang said that the online post was released on his behalf by his uncle-in-law. At the time, his family members were very angry when they heard about this, so they helped publish the incident online.
To verify Pan Huiqiang's statement, the reporter interviewed Deputy Town Mayor Yang Xidong. He said that the municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission took this matter very seriously. Later, they discovered that Pan Huiqiang had a criminal record. Although his case had been resolved, co-conspirators are still at large, making it difficult to proceed with the application. Yang Xidong asked the town to explain the situation to Pan Huiqiang. "The town is also concerned about Pan Huiqiang and plans to reimburse his medical expenses and praise him in a meeting. However, Pan Huiqiang is quite competitive; he doesn't care about money but values honor highly. But with a criminal record, there's nothing I can do," Yang Xidong said.
Guixi Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission Deputy Secretary Li Hui denied the claim that Pan Huiqiang was not selected due to his criminal record. She stated that relevant departments do not deny Pan Huiqiang's righteous behavior, but during the selection process for advanced individuals in righteous deeds, there were more outstanding cases, so Pan Huiqiang was not chosen. "The misunderstanding may have arisen due to incorrect understanding during communication at various stages," Li Hui said.
Incident highlights the awkwardness of rewarding and protecting righteous deeds
Despite the denial by the Guixi Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the reporter learned during interviews that the incident exposed the long-term lack of investment in rewarding and ensuring righteous deeds in the locality.
According to the "Regulations on Rewarding and Ensuring Righteous Individuals in Jiangxi Province," as long as actions protect national interests, public interests, or the safety of others' lives and property, they should be confirmed as righteous deeds, and depending on the influence of the deeds, commendations and rewards should be given by provinces, cities, or counties (districts).
However, the reporter learned that only two people were selected as advanced individuals for righteous deeds in Guixi City in 2011. Since no selection was made in 2010, one person's righteous deed occurred in 2010.
A cadre of the Guixi Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission frankly admitted to the reporter that due to tight funding, the selection of advanced individuals for righteous deeds in Guixi averages only one person per year. The city established the righteous deeds fund in 2003, initially with only 100,000 yuan, and currently has only five to sixty thousand yuan. Since only meager interest from the fund can be used for rewards, "only those with more outstanding deeds can be commended."
In addition, according to the "Regulations on Rewarding and Ensuring Righteous Individuals in Jiangxi Province," the Public Security, Civil Affairs, Finance, Health, Human Resources and Social Security, Justice, Education, and other relevant departments should, according to their respective responsibilities, do a good job in rewarding and ensuring righteous individuals.
This staff member stated that due to the lack of specific implementation plans and defects in system design, relevant departments find it difficult to form a united effort in rewarding and ensuring righteous individuals, relying solely on the Comprehensive Governance Department responsible for evaluation. However, due to limited resources, apart from rewarding and commending newly selected individuals each year, they can only pay a token visit to previously selected individuals, unable to provide substantial assistance to righteous individuals.
The reporter learned that the standard bonus prepared for the advanced individuals of righteous deeds in 2011 in Guixi City was 2000 yuan for martyrs and 800 yuan for disabled individuals.
Professor Tan Fang from the School of Politics and Administration at South China Normal University, in an interview with China Web Story reporters, stated that although many regulations have been issued in recent years across the country to support righteous deeds, these aids and protections for good Samaritans are only symbolic, with form outweighing substance. Due to the imperfections of legal systems and the lack of a sound protection system, it is difficult to play a promoting role in upholding social justice and protecting and encouraging righteous individuals.
Tan Fang suggested that in addition to improving legislative guarantees and increasing financial input, the government can also consider involving civilian charities and public welfare organizations, allowing more channels for righteous deeds to gain recognition and encouragement, avoiding the tragedy of heroes shedding blood and tears. (End)