One major such scandal occurred in 2011 and dealt a major blow to the RCSC's reputation. "Guo Meimei," a purported staffer of an organization supposedly affiliated to the RCSC, used social media to flaunt her extravagant lifestyle and luxury goods.
After posting photos of herself carrying expensive handbags and posing on a white Maserati, netizens erupted in anger, speculating that she may have embezzled money from the RCSC to fund her lavish lifestyle.
A third-party investigation said neither "Guo Meimei" nor her apparent wealth had anything to do with the RCSC. But it also pointed out that grave flaws existed in the management of the China Business System Red Cross Society, one of the RCSC's fund-raising groups.
The RCSC announced Wednesday that it will renew the investigation into the "Guo Meimei incident" in May. The renewed probe will be carried out by an independent third party, without the participation of any RCSC staff -- a move the organization hopes can reestablish its credibility among the public.
As an dispensable part of China's social assistance system, charity work should be strengthened. Whether government-sponsored or not, charity organizations provide humanitarian aid for vulnerable groups in need.
Promoting the development of private charity groups does not mean weakening or even denying the roles that official groups like the RCSC play. Rumors slandering the RCSC and complaints about the group's official background are, in fact, nothing but a kind of bias.
Still, the RCSC's public image problems are not stopping the organization from playing an active and helpful role in quake relief. The group has donated quake relief funds and materials worth about 66.16 million yuan and deployed 25 rescue teams with 113 vehicles to quake-hit areas.
To rehabilitate its image, there is no doubt that the RCSC needs to implement a stricter supervision system and boost transparency, but neither fabricating rumors nor gloating at the organization's plight qualify as behavior that constitutes public or press supervision.
Giant pandas safe in quake-hit zone
Feedback
RSS
