Inside China Today

No word on responsibly amidst praises of earthquake rescue efforts

With the conclusion of rescue efforts more than two months after the Sichuan earthquake disaster, the closely watched issue of seeking those responsible behind shoddy school constructions seems to have been swept under a carpet of political pressure and money, according to Free Asia Radio reports. With legal issues over school collapses not yet addressed, the television program on State run media singing praise to rescue efforts has caused an uproar among Chinese web users.
Troops have withdrawn from disaster areas since July 21, marking an end to rescue efforts. Resident of Wanghan region in Deyan Ms Li said that the troops left on Monday this week, but local residents who are still without temporary timber buildings are fearing a glum future. In addition, days of torrential rains are causing safety concerns of sudden landslides.

Aside from various living difficulties, one issue on the mind of residents is the legal responsibility of those behind the numerous schools which collapsed during the quake. Officials have consistently called for parents of deceased students to sit tight, to see the bigger picture and make way for rescue efforts. However, with the rescue efforts now finished, shoddy construction problems have not only gone unaddressed, parents’ calls for justice are being quashed by pressures from the regime, and so-called compensation money.

Mr Huang, the father of a student who died in the collapse of Dongqi Middle School, has been arrested twice after protesting to the government. He finally begrudgingly signed the acceptance of a compensation package of $60,000 Yuan after constant pressure and hoaxing from the government. Mr Huang says the pressure has left him with no option, and about half the parents have accepted the governments offer. He says the government sends people to speak to them every night, but do not accept their claims of shoddy construction. After being arrested twice, Mr Huang says parents have basically stopped going to the government out of fear, but will likely go back after the Olympic Games.

The Chinese communist regime has adopted a hush-hush approach to the issue of seeking legal responsibility for shoddy constructions. In contrast, the regime is singing loud praises to its own rescue efforts. A 14 episode documentary titled “The 7 Days that Shook the World”, depicting the May 12 disaster is now showing on Chinese State run media.

The above news is brought to you by Chris Thomas for Inside China Today on the SOH Radio Network.

 

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