The sacking of high-ranking officials following accidents indicates the country's accountability mechanism has become more mature, says an article in Oriental Morning Post. An excerpt follows:

Xie Zhenhua, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), was recently deposed by the State Council in the wake of the chemical spill that seriously polluted the Songhua River.

At a ministerial-level, Xie is so far the most important official to be dismissed because of environmental pollution. During the outbreak of SARS in 2003, Health Minister Zhang Wenkang and Beijing Mayor Meng Xuenong were stripped of power because of covering up and mismanaging the epidemic.

The departures of a series of high-level officials over their poor performance during a public crisis have shown that China's accountability system is on the way to institutionalization and perfection.

An accountability system for government officials is an important part of monitoring the government in a country administered by law. The system demands that officials' power should be matched with responsibility. If a major public accident occurs, the person in charge should step down or even take legal responsibility.

In a notice released by the State Council General Office, the SEPA was accused of not paying heed to the water pollution and underestimating its consequences. It was also required to shoulder responsibility for the events.

As head of the SEPA, Xie resigned, demonstrating the government's determination to put into practice the accountability mechanism. It also serves as a warning to other government officials.

In the past, few officials were removed from posts in cases of major malpractice or corruption. The country has had no institution that demoted or discharged government officials.

But now the country is determined to build and improve its accountability system, under which officials should answer for their failure to fulfill duties commensurate with their rank.

To better implement such an accountability system, an extensive monitoring network, such as that provided by the media, is badly needed. Also, information transparency is essential.

A high degree of transparency will not only help uncover the truth, but also help reduce the impact of damaging consequences of accidents.

(China Daily December 9, 2005)