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Death pits technology against Chinese control
CNN ^ | 1/16/08 | Jaime FlorCruz

Posted on 01/16/2008 1:31:06 PM PST by charles m

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Wei Wenhua was a model communist and is now a bloggers' hero -- a "citizen journalist" turned martyr.

The construction company manager was driving his car when he witnessed an ugly scene: a team of about 50 city inspectors beating villagers who tried to block trucks from unloading trash near their homes.

Wei took out his cell phone and began taking pictures. The city inspectors saw Wei and then attacked him in a beating that lasted five minutes. By the time it was over, the 41-year-old Wei was slumped unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival.

His death earlier this month continues to stir controversy. In China's mainstream media and in the blogosphere, angry Chinese are demanding action.

After the Web site sina.com published news of Wei's beating, readers promptly expressed their outrage. In one day alone, more than 8,000 posted comments. Bloggers inside and outside China bluntly condemned the brutal killing.

"City inspectors are worse than the mafia," wrote one Chinese blogger. "They are violent civil servants acting in the name of law enforcement."

Another blogger asked, "Just who gave these city inspectors such absurd powers?"

Beijing scholar Xiong Peiyun wrote in Wednesday's Southern Metropolis Daily, "Perhaps no one wishes to face this question. Wei Wenhua's death stands as clear proof of the violent ways of local city inspectors. It's 2008 and another citizen goes down. When will we stand up and restrain the law enforcement violence of this city inspectors system?"

More and more victims of abuse already are standing up. "It's the latest in a series of incidents which have pit provincial government authorities against citizens -- those who are protesting against something who are recording and blogging and writing about something that they consider scandalous," Goldkorn said.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blogging; china; communism

1 posted on 01/16/2008 1:31:07 PM PST by charles m
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To: charles m

What did these inspectors do? Take lessons from the Chicago PD?


2 posted on 01/16/2008 1:36:49 PM PST by jonascord (Hurray! for the Bonny Blue Flag that bears the Single Star!)
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To: charles m
Another blogger asked, "Just who gave these city inspectors such absurd powers?"

Socialists.

3 posted on 01/16/2008 1:37:42 PM PST by TenthAmendmentChampion (Global warming is to Revelations as the theory of evolution is to Genesis.)
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To: charles m
Another blogger asked, "Just who gave these city inspectors such absurd powers?"

I would like to ask the same of our SWAT teams.

Certainly not to hijack this thread, it is really a bummer for this well-meaning guy to be plummeted by the inspectors.

4 posted on 01/16/2008 1:37:46 PM PST by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: charles m

I don’t think that China can keep a lid on its dissent. It’s just a question of time before the inmates demand their freedom.


5 posted on 01/16/2008 1:39:00 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: TenthAmendmentChampion

Yes... Karl Marx and Mao Tse Tung gave them their powers.


6 posted on 01/16/2008 1:39:54 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: Brilliant

I agree. There is too much discord boiling under the surface.


7 posted on 01/16/2008 1:42:00 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: charles m

“City inspectors are worse than the mafia,” wrote one Chinese blogger.

I think most contractors and homeowners doing remodels in the US would agree.


8 posted on 01/16/2008 1:45:43 PM PST by azcap
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To: Army Air Corps

Yup, a Chinese Civil War might be coming. Scary stuff, though, because literally millions will probably die. There will be world-wide ramifications, and I expect most of them will be bad. Very bad. And the West and Russia DEFINITELY will have to stay out of it, unless we/they want to get nuked.

“May you live in interesting times” — ancient curse. And these are certainly interesting times...


9 posted on 01/16/2008 1:48:18 PM PST by piytar
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To: piytar

Hopefully, it will be more of a coup rather than a full-blown civil war. If it is the latter, then, yes, it would be better for everyone to stand back and hope for the best.


10 posted on 01/16/2008 1:51:20 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: charles m
Does anyone here not see the inherent value of that $1.00 Wal-Mart item that produced these by-products? All Amercans and Chinese are winners as a result!

We cannot allow photography of the People's magic trash machine at work. All please to become ready for the glorious Olympics!

11 posted on 01/16/2008 1:57:24 PM PST by Sender (Feel like, I feel like a poke chop san'wich)
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To: Duchess47; jahp; LilAngel; metmom; EggsAckley; Battle Axe; SweetCaroline; Grizzled Bear; ...
WARNING MADE IN CHINA

”Made in China” Ping.

(Please FReepmail me if you would like to be on or off of the list.)
12 posted on 01/16/2008 6:41:21 PM PST by JACKRUSSELL
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To: Brilliant
"Mao Tse Tung"

You know they fry mice over there. "Mice & rice, not once but twice, it make you nice.."

That's why he was named "Mousey Tongue".

13 posted on 01/16/2008 6:49:18 PM PST by azhenfud (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: azcap

Yes, but in the US they don’t kill people for failing to pay protection money.


14 posted on 01/16/2008 9:21:38 PM PST by rmlew (Huckabee flip flops so much it makes Romney cringe)
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