New committees proposed to stem local misconduct

BEIJING - A new system of village-based supervisory committees has been proposed in China to stem emerging misconduct and corruption among local officials and guard against infringement of farmers' interests.

An official document co-publicized on Monday by 12 central-level departments suggested the committees be formed in villages to improve supervision over members of village committees, the autonomous bodies that govern all of a village's public issues.

According to a copy posted on the website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, systematic arrangements should be made to improve auditing of village officials' economic responsibilities and hold them accountable.

"In some regions, supervision over village officials is just a formality, and public money or power is improperly used, even resulting in graft and corruption," the document said.

It warned that such malpractice hinders the country's efforts to build a socialist new countryside.

Under the proposals, no village official should be relieved from economic responsibilities because of end of tenure or termination of service, unless auditing shows they are clean.

Supervisory committees should order those who are found by auditors to have embezzled collective properties, money or resources, to return what they illegally gained, it said.

They should gather opinions and proposals from auditors for review by villagers' conferences, and transfer cases where relevant to authorities for handling according to laws, it added.