Campus violence requires more attention

Three Chinese students studying in the United States and seven other students are to stand trial accused of kidnapping and torturing two women for over five hours. They even took videos of the process. One of their parents is under arrest, too, for trying to bribe witnesses. Comments:

Similar incidents happen more frequently in China, but the police always refuse to intervene, saying they are private matters, while the courts always issues light sentences regarding them as minor incidents. The suspects' trial in the US shows what role the police and courts should play in a society with the rule of law. Many scholars say Chinese students need to learn a lesson, but I think Chinese judiciaries should learn a bigger lesson.

Tao Duanfang, commentator, June 13

Campus violence is a common headache in China, too, but the police always refuse to investigate, with the excuse that it is the responsibility of the educational departments. But the educational departments tend to protect the perpetrators, most of whom have powerful family backgrounds, to "maintain stability". If they continue to turn a blind eye to such incidents or protect the culprits, more violence will emerge on campus.

Xiong Bingqi, vice-president of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, June 12

The US may not have a better judicial system but at least they enforce the law strictly. A parent bribed witnesses because that practice is so common in China, that he thought he could play the same trick in the US. Judicial corruption is a serious problem in China and that should arouse our attention.

Chunnixiayu, a lawyer, via Sina micro blog, June 13