The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opens a website to allow people to tip off the CCDI to corruption and other disciplinary violations. [Photo/IC]

The Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Finance recently issued a joint regulation that says whistle-blowers providing tip-offs about officials committing crimes by taking advantage of their positions should have their homes and property protected, and they might be given a substantial bonus if they make a special contributions to the anti-corruption campaign. That's a welcome move, but the key to its effectiveness lies in how it is implemented, says cjn.cn:

It is quite risky for people to provide tip-offs about officials who have committed crimes by taking advantage of their official positions, because the officials often have power in hand and can easily use it to get revenge on those who report about their crimes. Worse, as some cases show, even after the officials get disciplinary penalties or are jailed, the officials can still use their influence to gain revenge on the whistle-blower. Many people that could speak up about the crimes of officials choose to remain silent because they do not want any trouble.

Therefore, in order to encourage people to blow the whistle, the authorities need to protect them and make them feel safe. Only when they are free from fear of revenge, will people dare to report on corrupt officials.

That is just the bottom line. Actually, corruption often involves huge losses for the State and the people; whistle-blowers can actually limit such losses by stopping the corrupt officials from committing more evil. Therefore, they deserve a reward.

Corruption is the common enemy of the whole of society, and it is the legal right of citizens to report it without fear of retribution. The new regulation requires the State to better protect them, which is expected to further promote the enthusiasm of people to help fight corruption.