Beijing admits worker’s deaths during building of Olympic Village
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Chinese government has admitted of the first time ever that 6 workers were killed during construction on projects linked to the Olympics, which is scheduled to begin August 8th next. Up until now, officially, “no one had died” during construction which began 5 years ago.
Some government officials have confirmed that families of the victims will be compensated for the labourers deaths: two of whom lost their lives working on the capitals’ new National stadium. According to a Sunday Times report, however, the number of deaths which have taken place during the building of the “bird’s nest” is far higher.
The government has decided to bury all news of deaths in the workplace: the Central Department for Publicity in fact sent out orders to Chinese media not to feed into “bad press” surrounding the next Olympic Games.
The note, distributed to all editors, demands that Chinese journalists stay away from stories which show China up in a bad light in foreign press. Themes not to be touched include air quality and pollution; food security and work safety, in the wake of recent scandals over food poisoning; the Torch route in the aftermath of controversy over Taiwan; the Paralympics, in the light of violence against certain groups of handicapped.
Chinese president Hu Jintao, speaking to communist leaders last week himself said: “Positive propaganda is fundamental in maintaining social stability, despite the gap between rich and poor, ethnic divisions and protests over the role of the Communist Party”.
Rebuilding the capital sets out the renovation or construction of 31 sports or housing structures within Beijing’s second circle, the cities most central zone. A further 6 projects are being built in Shanghai where the Paralympics are due to be held.
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