As flood deaths increase in Beijing, so does government propaganda
Beijing (AsiaNews) - While the number of victims of the
disastrous floods in Beijing continues to climb, the only government agency that seems to be working to respond to the
tragedy is the Department of propaganda and censorship. Even
if the government has not confirmed the news, the discovery of 10 more bodies
in the Fangshan District of Beijing means the toll has risen to 47 dead. And
if the break in the rain has given some respite to the capital, the national
media lay all the blame with the outgoing mayor and his deputy, who yesterday resigned
their office in disgrace.
Today's
People's
Daily has given a vast amount of space to a forum titled "The rain
returns to Beijing.
Are you ready?". The
answers are a total of 7, and the most provocative reads: "If it rains it
is better to stay home." Meanwhile
Weibo - the "Facebook of China", which has become a
rallying point for popular discontent - has been blocked for "technical
reasons". From
the outset, however, the state media were ordered not to talk about the
problems of Beijing's
antiquated sewer system, or the number of deaths.
A
long article in the Global Times instead
reports of the edifying popular initiatives undertaken by Beijing residents to give comfort to the
displaced. The
story portrays individual entrepreneurs and business owners who have provided
safe places, food and other basic necessities to fellow citizens: no mention of
the rescue and recovery plans put together by Guo Jinlong, the former mayor, which have proved totally
inadequate.
For
now the weather seems to have given at least one day of respite to the capital.
But
the rain is falling on nearly all the north of the country, and the banks of
the Yangtze River are at risk for more than 600 km. The
situation has been worsened by the Three Gorges Dam, a huge hydroelectric
reservoir that does not allow water to flow normally.
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21/07/2021 09:43
23/09/2020 17:15
