Web users responded quickly to news of the removal of Shanghai’s top leader, Chen Liangyu in a broadening pensions scandal. The removal of Chen, a close protege of former president Jiang Zemin, has intensified speculation that Hu Jintao is moving against political enemies ahead of a key leadership conference next year. [Coverage from Bloomberg][Coverage from AFP][Coverage from People’s Daily]
Web postings, or gentie, responding to news of Chen’s removal posted at the top of popular Web portal Sina.com had reached 9,210 by 4:03pm Beijing time. One hour later the number had risen to 14,998.
Chinese media coverage of corruption cases can often amount to a ritual demonization of the official in question and generally shuns exploration of institutional factors. Many of the postings at Sina.com seem to follow this pattern, venting anger and praising Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao. But cooler voices are there too. Translations of selected postings follow:
My first thought was total surprise, my second thought was that Hu [Jintao] and Wen [Jiabao] have a lot of guts, my third thought was that the ordinary people of China have hope!!!!!!!
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Throwing the book at corrupt officials means the central party is serious in its war on corruption. The people are in support!
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The important thing isn’t getting corrupt officials it’s doing reform to get rid of the systematic [problems] that provide a fertile ground for corruption. Otherwise, we’ll just have the following soap opera: one the one hand we’ll be getting rid of corrupt officials and on the other our current system will be constantly creating new ones. Getting corrupt officials and system reforms is a question about fundamentals versus quick fixes.
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I think the central party should look into this further and find out who it was who promoted this corrupt official! They should look into his predecessors and the predecessors of his predecessors.
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This makes people so happy, that the central party represents the interests of the grassroots and does something real. Thank you! These kinds of things are actually common in Shanghai. They’ve all been covered up and people don’t dare open their mouths because they’re afraid. I want the address and contact telephone for the 100 person corruption investigation team [working in Shanghai].
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Actually, the power of Chinese officials is too great. It’s lack of oversight that has created this situation.
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The hope of the Chinese people lies in President Hu and Premier Wen!
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We need to go further in understanding the protracted nature and complexities of the war against corruption … Party organizations at various levels need to actively strengthen education and management of party cadres, particularly those in leadership positions … and the checking and supervision of power needs to be strengthened …
[Posted by David Bandurski, September 25, 2006, 5:03pm]
