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Controversy over retained lawyers report

By  Xie Chuanjiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-29 09:03

The Keerqin district government of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region Monday denied a media report claiming it had retained dozens of lawyers so they would be unable to represent local people in cases filed against officials and government agencies.

On Friday, China Comment magazine reported that since 2002, the district government has recruited almost 100 lawyers from seven law firms to work as legal consultants.

"Under the agreements between the government and the law firms, lawyers could not accept cases in which a local official or government agency was the accused," the report said.

The magazine cited the example of retired middle school teacher Chen Xian who in 2002 filed a lawsuit against the government after it ordered the demolition of his business to make way from a new development.

However, Chen was unable to secure the services of a lawyer and was left to defend himself, the report said.

After losing his case at both the local district and intermediate people's court, Chen was victorious at the high people's court of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

China Comment quoted an anonymous lawyer as saying he "could never accept citizens' cases against officials or government agencies, as his firm acted as a legal consultant to the government".

An official from the information office of the Keerqin district government, who refused to give his name, told China Daily yesterday the report was "distorted".

"The report misunderstands what our officials said, and Chen Xian's case was concluded a long time ago and should not be used as an example," he said.

"How could we sign an agreement forbidding lawyers to accept cases against government agencies?"

The government is now trying to clarify the details of the report, the official said.

A lawyer surnamed Wang from the Shangheng Law Firm in Keerqin district told China Daily the report was "subjective and one-sided".

"Our firm is not contracted to the local government."

"We will not tolerate such an infringement by the government into people's basic rights," he said.

"If someone comes to me for help with such a case, I will take it," Wang said.

Zhang Han, executive editor-in-chief with China Comment, told China Daily: "We never approve an article for publication without careful examination of its accuracy.

"Those who have been exposed are now feeling the pain," he said.