From The Christian Science Monitor:
As southern China enters its third week of freak snowstorms and plunging temperatures, government leaders have been falling over themselves to be seen on the front lines of disaster relief, consoling victims and encouraging repair men.
In a highly unusual concerted display of public concern, four members of the powerful Standing Committee of the ruling Communist party, led by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, have fanned out across the affected areas in recent days to assure residents that the authorities will soon restore power, water, and transport.
“I want to tell everybody that we have the confidence, courage, and capacity to combat this severe natural disaster,” Mr. Wen said Feb. 2 while visiting the badly hit Hunan Province for the second time in a week.
