Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/cnforbiddennews Like us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/chinaforbiddennews Since the stampede incident in Shanghai, there have been widespread online requests to hold authorities to account. Hong Kong media reported that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping will severely punish Shanghai authorities and more than 10 officials could be dismissed in a brief meeting during the holiday. The state-run media reported 36 deaths in the Shanghai stampede. The youngest is 12 years old and the oldest 37 years old. The AP reported, victims' family members were forced into a district government compound, with reporters kept out. An AP reporter was also asked by Shanghai police to leave the compound. Grieving family members demanded to know more about the incident. But no senior officials from the municipality showed up to address the relatives. Victim Pan Haiqin's father attempted to block traffic near the district government compound to demand meetings with senior government officials. The police responded by detaining him, added AP. People blame the Shanghai government for lack of effective measures after the incident. There are comparisons between Shanghai with the New York Times Square New Year's Eve activities, which had more than one million people. They view the Shanghai stampede as no accident, but rather a typical incident of lack of security management. The city and the police are to be held accountable. Asian Newsweek Director Huang Jinqiu, "CCP and local leaders of Shanghai must be held responsible for the incident. The Central government should also hold Shanghai authorities accountable in the incident. Shanghai authorities have done a number of inhuman things. First, the incident was only briefly introduced at the corner of the front page of Shanghai Liberation Daily. Second, they had the cleaning crews to throw away flowers from mourners. Third, Shanghai propaganda Department also banned "unauthorized reports" and so forth" Hong Kong's Ming Pao Daily News reported Beijing sources said Xi Jinping had a brief meeting with relevant officials.. The Shanghai Bund stampede was one of the issues discussed. Sources said multiple officials might be implicated, such as Huangpu District party and government leaders, Municipal Public Security Bureau, deputy mayor in charge of security and even Mayor Yang Xiong. It's believed many officials will be dismissed. Those investigated will have higher rank than ones punished after the 2011 fire incident in Shanghai Jing'an District. Several state-run media also published articles to criticize the authorities. Xinhua News Agency proposed three questions that alleged the management is to blame. Current affairs commentator Chen Minghui, "Beijing's attitude is clearly going to conduct the investigation. But the current system tells that investigation levels are based on the need of the internal struggle, i.e., political. It is not about the loss of peoples' lives and property caused by the ineffective official management. Once it was said that the authorities will be accountable, Han Zheng (Party Secretary of Shanghai) and Yang Xiong (Mayor of Shanghai) also followed and said the authorities will be held accountable. That means a few people will become the scapegoats." Hong Kong's Oriental Daily commentary indicated that “politics first, the party first, the maintenance of stability first,” which has always been the tone that the CCP uses to deal with such tragedy. Instead of mourning for the people, the media only show they are touched by the "caring" of the party and the CCP; Instead of a funeral, it will become a report of "great deeds" by the officials. These have all become the unspoken rules of the Communist officialdom. A Weibo user "Greensleeves Red Incense" stated the stampede killed at least 70 people, injuring over 300 people. But Han Zheng personally ordered not to disclose the real casualties. They defined the casualties as 35, and set the propaganda tone that it is not a major accident. The Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department has stepped up censorship as well. In the telephone interview with Huang Jinqiu, the phone was cut off four times. Mr. Huang's interview with NTD finally ended with a dead telephone line. Huang Jinqiu, "Those who are taping should think about it. In fact, respect for individual human rights is also respect for your own rights. I don't agree the standards of dismissal when casualties are above 35 and no dismissal when causalities are below 35. It depends on the type of incident; if the management procedures are adequate, if officials are sincere and honest. These are the standards that should be followed." 《神韵》2015世界巡演新亮点 http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/

• published: 06 Jan 2015
• views: 1