Red Cross vows transparency in Lushan quake donations(2)

IMAGE REBUILDING

The public's reluctance to donate via the society underlines the organization's urgent need to rehabilitate its image.

"But the major task currently is to carry out relief work well. The rescue task at the moment remains arduous, and we'd better concentrate on quake relief rather than devote ourselves to explaining or responding to various hearsays," said Wang.

However, earlier Wednesday, the RCSC announced that it will reinvestigate the Guo Meimei case that has long shadowed the organization.

The announcement instantly attracted public attention.

The previous investigation, carried out by staff from the RCSC, the Ministry of Supervision, law firms and other agencies, asserted that neither Guo, nor her demonstrated wealth, had anything to do with the RCSC.

Wang Yong, the RCSC supervision committee spokesperson, said despite the work the society has done in quake relief, its efforts were not recognized by the public.

"Instead, many people still take the 'Guo Meimei' case as proof of the RCSC's corruption and embezzlement of public funds, which hampers the organization's future work in disaster relief and aid," Wang Yong said.

He said the second probe will be conducted by third-party agencies and will not involve any staff of the RCSC.

According to Wang Jingming, the society has received nearly 50complaints concerning donations for Lushan quake victims, but none of them were incurred by "errors of principle" such as corruption or embezzlement.

Facing questioning and criticism, the RCSC has no other ways but by improving transparency to rebuild its image, he said.

"To put the RCSC's work into a glass box and let the public see each and every move we make," Wang said.