Jiangxi official sparks uproar after remark about sexually abused girls
Sunday, 11 August, 2013 [UPDATED: 4:39PM]
Chris Luo [email protected]
Six of the young girls involved in an alleged sexual abuse case are seen in the photo taken in Jiangxi. Photo: Mimi Lau
A Jiangxi official's criticism of seven sexually abused children's parents, who are seeking compensation from the government, has sparked public outrage, with many calling her uncaring.
“If my child fell victim to sexual abuses, I would not have asked for a single penny from the government,” Ruichang Vice-Mayor Jiang Xianzhia had said to one of the parents, according to Xinmin Weekly. Last week, reports emerged that a primary school teacher had confessed to molesting seven girls, aged eight and nine, and infecting them with genital warts.
“I would only quietly take her to undergo medical treatment at a place where nobody knows,” the official said.
The city government last month offered each family 50,000 yuan (HK$62,900) in compensation to show “humanitarian care”, Jiang said. But the parents had declined it, arguing the amount was insufficient considering the mental trauma of their daughters and the high chance their infections would recur, Xinmin Weekly said. Since July, the parents have petitioned Ruichang for fair compensation.
The remarks came amid public anger over the case. Critics in the media and on microblogs slammed the government’s lack of supervision in education and its apathetic response.
“Some government officers’ display of apathy and arrogance … is responsible for increasing tension between officials and the public,” said a commentary in the Beijing News newspaper on Sunday.
Sina Weibo users said Jiang, who oversees education in Ruichang, was trying to diminish the uproar around the case.
“Aren’t you ashamed about living on taxpayers’ money? Why do we need you [as deputy mayor] if you only want to silence the public,” a blogger wrote.
Another said: “Her comment shows she is eager to evade the parents’ questions.”
Several bloggers said Jiang was being respectful of the victims' privacy. “She meant to give consideration to the girls’ future… as they may have to endure a far greater social burden and psychological stress if they were exposed in public,” one wrote.
An opinion piece on Jiangxi’s government news portal Jxnty.cn blamed Jiang for suggesting that the parents cover up the harm done to their children. “The parents of the victims should bravely step forward in reporting the crimes…Covering up the truth could only lead to more crimes,” it said.
The 62-year-old teacher was arrested last month. Authorities also sacked the school principal for inadequate supervision.
According to the victims’ accounts, the sexual abuse began in Primary One and lasted until the end of their Primary Two school term. The case came to light only after parents of one of the victims found that their daughter's genitals were covered with red and white bumps, confirmed to be highly contagious warts.The discovery led to the revelation that several other girls in the same class were suffering similar symptoms.
Six of the girls are still receiving treatment in hospital as of Saturday but are recovering from their infections, Xinhua reported.
