Sichuan earthquake anniversary: Parents of victims told not to hold memorials

Source: The Telegraph

Parents of the children who died during last year's earthquake in Sichuan have been threatened with imprisonment if they hold memorials for their dead on May 12th, the one year anniversary of the disaster.

The government has released figures stating that 5,335 school children died when the 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit the south-western province. Most perished when their schools collapsed.

Anger over the number of children killed and the government's failure to hold an inquiry into the reason why almost 12,000 schools were destroyed or damaged has been rising ahead of the sensitive first anniversary of the earthquake, which left 70,000 dead and another 18,000 missing.

In an attempt to silence protests, some parents have been detained in so-called 'black jails', or unofficial prisons, for up to 21 days. Now, though, they have been threatened with longer jail terms if they attempt to commemorate their children.



Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/5294397/Sichuan-earthquake-anniversary-Parents-of-victims-told-not-to-hold-memorials.html

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I don't trust the government's figure of 5300. I'd bet it's at least double that.

...not surprising, but heartless nevertheless.

I hope the parents unite and together thumb their noses at their government in this case. In fact, with 70,000 known dead, maybe if everyone who lost a family member held a memorial, it would be hard for the government to crack down due to sheer numbers.

But then again, this is China. They know how to wield the iron hand against their own people, that's for sure...