Cop promoted for breastfeeding quake babies

A Chinese policewoman who breastfed babies orphaned during last month's earthquake has been given a better job, prompting online protests that promotions should be awarded on merit, not merely for good deeds.

Jiang Xiaojuan, 30, left her own baby with her parents and took part in the disaster relief work, breastfeeding nine babies, earning her the nickname of "the police mum" in the press.

She has since been awarded titles of "hero and model police officer" and "excellent member of the Communist Party", was appointed to the Communist Party of China Committee of the Jiangyou Public Security Bureau and became the bureau's vice commissar, Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.

Jiangyou, population 850,000, is a city near the epicentre of the May 12 Sichuan quake which killed more than 69,000 people with thousands still missing.

"Many people voiced objections when the Jiangyou government sought public opinion after making the promotion," Xinhua said. "They said an official position should not be used to promote a moral model."

There were also supporters of Jiang's promotion, saying that what she did showed she was a good public servant.

Comments

P. Xuereb (on 22/6/08)

I disagree. While I would accept she gets some form of recognition, a promotion should not be give for such a deed. A medal of honour maybe, but promotion should be given on a criteria (that would include such deeds but not only on these)

Karen M. Zammit Manduca (on 22/6/08)

The online protests only bring to light where most people's priorities lie....in the wrong direction. What can be more wonderful than for a woman to selflessly sustain babies that were not even her own issue in a time of crisis...definitely meriting reward.

john muscat (on 22/6/08)

Great woman. Undoubtedly those who protested that promotions should be given on merit probably do not exactly mean what merit is. Certainly she merited her promotion. What is more noble than doing something for others. A perfect example of humanity in action. God bless this noble woman.