Guangzhou to crack down on hoax suicides

By Chen Qian  |   2008-6-25  |     ONLINE EDITION

PEOPLE who disturb public order by threatening to commit suicide in Guangzhou City will be taken into custody and possibly be reeducated through manual labor, the provincial capital's Public Security Bureau said, Nanfang Daily reported today.

The bureau wants to crack down on the number of people threatening to commit suicide in order to pressure the government to address perceived injustices such as labor disputes.

Some National People's Congress members in the city said more people are trying to solve their problems by threatening to commit suicide. They said such people like to choose busy areas to generate more attention and put pressure on government leaders through the hoax, according to the report.

These cases often force police officers, firefighters, neighborhood committee officials and others to respond, thus wasting resources, the report said, citing the NPC members.

Delegates said firemen and policemen are enough for such cases. Other officials needn't go to the scene.
"Such a suggestion doesn't mean we are indifferent to people's lives," NPC delegate Wu Zhengxin told the newspaper. "But since there are too many fake suicides, we have to consider the best use of city resources."
They suggested those who purposefully disturb social order be punished.

They also said the rights of migrant workers need more legal protection, which could help reduce the number of hoax suicides, according to the report.