May 22 2006
CCTV and Local Lords
Read an article on China Youth Daily: 央视新闻调查幕后
The investigative TV program met with a lot of resistence (close to physical violence) when doing its work:
当时，一些当地基层官员的气焰非常嚣张。采访中，一名农妇告诉记者，“渗灌池没放过水，从来没用过”，跟在摄制组后面的一名乡干部立即大声呵斥她：“谁胡说我就收拾谁！”
摄制组结束一天工作后在运城大酒店下榻，并叮嘱司机把车停在凭窗可以目及的地方。司机终于忍不住了，用河南普通话问道：“你们到底是来干啥？我以前开车去邢台解救过人质，结果反被人家扣下了。咱们是不是也有危险？”
–Another example of central oversight over lawless local despot.
–Chinese state may have a monopoly on the means of violence, but it may not have the final control on the disbursement of such means.
–Is judicial independence a viable means to break this mold?