ESWN translates an essay by a former employee of the Chengdu Evening News about how “a thirteen word advertisement that is the size of a cigarette” was able to be published without the editors’ knowledge:
From the process how the whole affair unfolded, this was a planned “prank.” This “prank” reflected the public opinion of the Chinese people in terms of its deep sympathy for the victims of June 4th and respect for the mothers who lost children. The most thorough way to resolve this problem is for the Chinese authorities to recognize history and look it squarely. They should “vindicate” the victims of June 4th and not to assign political responsibility for “a thirteen word advertisement that is the size of a cigarette.” If they want an investigation, they should investigate who were the butchers who suppressed the students! They cannot invert the priorities and create new incidents. As a veteran of Chengdu Evening News, I call for the authorities to restore the jobs of Li Xiaojun and others. Furthermore, they should not go after the principal who started this incident. To use a common saying in China: “A pile of feces sitting there does not stink much unless you stir it up.” [Full text]
