Commentary

China Watch

Forum Digests

Letters

Landmark roadmap

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-11 07:51

What is needed for the reconstruction of the quake area, apart from assistance in different forms from people all over the country and the world, is a roadmap, which will hopefully make the entire process orderly and rule-based.

Such a roadmap was released yesterday by the State Council and took effect immediately.

The first such regulations ever to be adopted by the State Council for post-disaster reconstruction of a locality, their significance is twofold. They not only hold the promise of closely-supervised and well-designed homes for the survivors, but also set a trail for the rule of law guiding similar rehabilitation programs after natural disasters and other gigantic construction projects.

As is known to all by now, transparency in letting the outside world know about the scale of the quake, the degree of destruction and entire process of rescue has impressed people everywhere. This is also why sympathy and help in different forms poured to the victims from all over the country and abroad.

There is enough reason for the public to expect that such transparency will continue in the reconstruction process. Its continuation means every penny that is donated or earmarked from the State coffer will be spent exactly where it should be; it means everything concerning reconstructed buildings will be an open book; and it means all channels for the flow of money and material will be overseen by both government watchdogs and the general public.

The regulations do have detailed specifications about all these. This is a sign that the central government has realized how important transparency can be for reconstruction.

The promise of participation of quake survivors in the reconstruction as specified in the regulations, is also meant to keep the process as democratic and transparent as possible.

A good roadmap is just a beginning, and much needs to be done to implement it to the letter. Even with the best possible plans, it is unrealistic to hope that everything will be plain-sailing.

What is inspiring is that many specifications in the roadmap are actually preemptive measures that aim at preventing the reconstruction from being affected by possible mistakes or corruption.

From this point of view, the roadmap, if successfully implemented, will become a milestone in China's progress in the rule of law.

(China Daily 06/11/2008 page8)