Steve's China Blog

Friday, June 20, 2008

All about control

Well, that didn't take long...

China reins in quake school fury - BBC

Grieving parents say wreaths left on the rubble at Xinjian Primary School were taken away by officials.

"They went too far. They have no consideration," said Xu Yan, whose 11-year-old daughter Huang Ruiqi died when the school collapsed.

No senior official was available to explain why the wreaths were taken away.

...and this one...

Chinese media blocked as parents seek justice over collapsed schools - Guardian UK

The restrictions are a step back from the first two weeks after the May 12 earthquake, when the government was widely praised for opening the disaster area to journalists, volunteers and aid workers.

The tightening reflects political concerns that the destroyed schools could become a focus for anti-government sentiment. Thousands of children died when their classrooms were reduced to rubble even though surrounding buildings remained standing. This has prompted allegations of shoddy construction, official corruption and poor safety oversight.

I'm not too surprised by this. The government will do anything here to retain control. Eventually I hope the Chinese people will do something about their repressive government. I think that they are the only ones who can change it. It will be hard in a country where only one party is in control and where the press and the military are in control of the government.

4 Comments:

  • Steve, a little less rhetoric and a little more China. I am your friend and enjoy your views on China.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:59 AM  

  • This was about China, and about America. I'm an American living in China, so I am bound to talk about both. It is not rhetoric, but my observations about both China and America.

    By Blogger Steve Harms, at 10:56 AM  

  • Well being an American, living in America it's quite different here. And since I know next to nothing about China (other than I think they are orchestrating a lot fo the turmoil in this world atm)it is interesting hearing about China. We hear enough about how terrible the US is here. I guess the proof will be inthe pudding as they say.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:42 PM  

  • Didnt' post anon--that was me.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:43 PM  

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