BEIJING: President Xi Jinping's bid to rule for life has surprised many of us in China. It left retired state-owned newspaper editor Li Datong cursing in a foreign language in a crowded mall.
Belying Communist Party claims that "the masses" unanimously toughen the elimination of presidential time period limits, many Chinese like Li have brushed aside censors to complain about the transfer because the rubber-stamp parliament prepares to approve it on Sunday.
Li was shopping for bread together with his son final week when the announcement popped up on his phone. Shoppers stared at him as he cursed in English.
"It was so sudden. I didn't believe he would do it, but he did," mentioned the 66-year-old former China Youth Daily editor.
Li garnered international attention after penning an open letter urging the National People's congress (NPC) to reject the constitutional modification, caution that it might "sow the seeds of chaos".
"If you don't speak up, they will think we all agree," Li told AFP.
He is not alone. His missive ricocheted round social media final week — till censors caught up.
The declare that the masses unanimously approve the measure is within the text of the modification presented at the opening consultation of the yearly NPC meeting on Monday. The handpicked legislators are all however sure to vote "yes" on Sunday.
But many in China — from businessmen and girls to teachers, spiritual leaders and retired officials — were voicing discontent, either in private or via social media and interviews with foreign media.
The horrors of recent historical past — unleashed on the populace through the unquestionable authority of Chairman Mao Zedong — are remembered through many.
Censors have labored furiously to silence any voice of dissent since the legit Xinhua information agency made the birthday party's plans public on February 25.
Li mentioned 1000's of emails of toughen had flooded his inbox, till at some point they all mysteriously disappeared. During the interview in a coffee shop, two policemen hovered outdoor, at one point analyzing a pot of flower tea ordered for the desk. It was by no means served.
Sophia Huang Xueqin, a feminist activist based within the southern town of Guangzhou, saw Li's letter and reposted it to her WeChat social media account, adding her own take.
"Even my older relatives back home are talking about it," she wrote, "They called me to ask will Xi be the next emperor?"
Later that day, her WeChat account was close down, with a message pronouncing she had posted "illegal material".
Last week, China's web censorship equipment blocked phrases and words like "I disagree", "emigrate", "monarchy", "call me emperor" and "long live".
Han, an avid Weibo consumer, had constructed up an audience of greater than 25,000 followers till he reposted the Xinhua tale, adding "I earnestly don't agree." Two reposts later, his account was close down, he mentioned.
"We've seen many times the abuses that occur when a chairman rules for life," Han, who declined to provide his complete name, told AFP. "Every time there is huge national damage."
Religious leaders too are concerned about the choice to elongate Xi's rule.
"We're regressing back to the period of the Cultural Revolution," mentioned an Imam based in northwestern Gansu province.
"It's like the Deng Xiaoping era never happened, like the period of reform and opening up didn't do anything," he mentioned, relating to the late leader who championed "collective" leadership and an orderly succession procedure following Mao's chaotic rule.
Beijing-based activist Hu Jia mentioned the birthday party is not going to allow another voices to speak up.
"That's why I was cleared out of Beijing," Hu mentioned of the security equipment which he mentioned sent him away to the southern town of Zhongshan at some point of the two-week congress.
The legislators convening in Beijing's Great Hall of the People have shown no signs they'll vote down the revision as they enthusiastically applauded the modification when it was introduced on Monday.
"I'm very emotional. I think the current leadership has done so much to help ordinary people," mentioned Tang Nong, a delegate from the southern Guangxi province.
"I firmly support Xi Jinping staying on as general secretary. His leadership has brought good, tangible results," Tang mentioned, noting he had no longer heard any criticism of the adjustments.
"A stable leadership is important," mentioned Ling Wen, an financial delegate to the congress.
"I support Xi serving longer. He's a good leader. There's no problem," he mentioned of the constitutional adjustments.
Li, the retired editor, knows there's little likelihood that legislators will reject the modification.
"Under this type of system can there be hope?" he asked, answering: "There's no hope."
"At the very least when they raise their hands, I want them to consider how this will be remembered by history," Li mentioned.
"This will be a mark of shame on their voting record that they will have to tell their children and grandchildren about."
Belying Communist Party claims that "the masses" unanimously toughen the elimination of presidential time period limits, many Chinese like Li have brushed aside censors to complain about the transfer because the rubber-stamp parliament prepares to approve it on Sunday.
Li was shopping for bread together with his son final week when the announcement popped up on his phone. Shoppers stared at him as he cursed in English.
"It was so sudden. I didn't believe he would do it, but he did," mentioned the 66-year-old former China Youth Daily editor.
Li garnered international attention after penning an open letter urging the National People's congress (NPC) to reject the constitutional modification, caution that it might "sow the seeds of chaos".
"If you don't speak up, they will think we all agree," Li told AFP.
He is not alone. His missive ricocheted round social media final week — till censors caught up.
The declare that the masses unanimously approve the measure is within the text of the modification presented at the opening consultation of the yearly NPC meeting on Monday. The handpicked legislators are all however sure to vote "yes" on Sunday.
But many in China — from businessmen and girls to teachers, spiritual leaders and retired officials — were voicing discontent, either in private or via social media and interviews with foreign media.
The horrors of recent historical past — unleashed on the populace through the unquestionable authority of Chairman Mao Zedong — are remembered through many.
Censors have labored furiously to silence any voice of dissent since the legit Xinhua information agency made the birthday party's plans public on February 25.
Li mentioned 1000's of emails of toughen had flooded his inbox, till at some point they all mysteriously disappeared. During the interview in a coffee shop, two policemen hovered outdoor, at one point analyzing a pot of flower tea ordered for the desk. It was by no means served.
Sophia Huang Xueqin, a feminist activist based within the southern town of Guangzhou, saw Li's letter and reposted it to her WeChat social media account, adding her own take.
"Even my older relatives back home are talking about it," she wrote, "They called me to ask will Xi be the next emperor?"
Later that day, her WeChat account was close down, with a message pronouncing she had posted "illegal material".
Last week, China's web censorship equipment blocked phrases and words like "I disagree", "emigrate", "monarchy", "call me emperor" and "long live".
Han, an avid Weibo consumer, had constructed up an audience of greater than 25,000 followers till he reposted the Xinhua tale, adding "I earnestly don't agree." Two reposts later, his account was close down, he mentioned.
"We've seen many times the abuses that occur when a chairman rules for life," Han, who declined to provide his complete name, told AFP. "Every time there is huge national damage."
Religious leaders too are concerned about the choice to elongate Xi's rule.
"We're regressing back to the period of the Cultural Revolution," mentioned an Imam based in northwestern Gansu province.
"It's like the Deng Xiaoping era never happened, like the period of reform and opening up didn't do anything," he mentioned, relating to the late leader who championed "collective" leadership and an orderly succession procedure following Mao's chaotic rule.
Beijing-based activist Hu Jia mentioned the birthday party is not going to allow another voices to speak up.
"That's why I was cleared out of Beijing," Hu mentioned of the security equipment which he mentioned sent him away to the southern town of Zhongshan at some point of the two-week congress.
The legislators convening in Beijing's Great Hall of the People have shown no signs they'll vote down the revision as they enthusiastically applauded the modification when it was introduced on Monday.
"I'm very emotional. I think the current leadership has done so much to help ordinary people," mentioned Tang Nong, a delegate from the southern Guangxi province.
"I firmly support Xi Jinping staying on as general secretary. His leadership has brought good, tangible results," Tang mentioned, noting he had no longer heard any criticism of the adjustments.
"A stable leadership is important," mentioned Ling Wen, an financial delegate to the congress.
"I support Xi serving longer. He's a good leader. There's no problem," he mentioned of the constitutional adjustments.
Li, the retired editor, knows there's little likelihood that legislators will reject the modification.
"Under this type of system can there be hope?" he asked, answering: "There's no hope."
"At the very least when they raise their hands, I want them to consider how this will be remembered by history," Li mentioned.
"This will be a mark of shame on their voting record that they will have to tell their children and grandchildren about."
Chinese grumble about 'emperor' as congress fetes Xi
![Chinese grumble about 'emperor' as congress fetes Xi]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 06, 2018
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