A 60th anniversary not so gratifying finally: the crisis of the sixties?
There is much talk of the festivities surrounding the 60th anniversary of China these days. In Hong Kong, my friends discussing the restaurant with the best order to attend the fireworks, the best late night party to celebrate, etc.. The 60th anniversary seems that being another of those great opportunities to celebrate for people of all ilk, from all sources.
However, an anniversary is more than just not only a celebration. More often than not, it initiated a period of observation and self-criticism.
In this week's edition of Time Magazine (October 5, 2009) ( read the full article), the Chinese architect Ai Weiwei sign a pamphlet felt good about the state of contemporary China. Ai Weiwei is one of Chinese public figures most interesting, colorful but also courageous today's China. It combines a distinguished international career in the arts to a fierce public battle against the excesses of the Chinese government. His weapon of choice: the Internet.
Ai Weiwei was born in 1957 into a family of Chinese scholars. His father, the poet Ai Qing, was exiled to Xinjiang in the late 50s. The family finally returned to the capital, where Ai Weiwei complete his art studies. In 1983, he left for the United States where he pursued his career as an architect and visual artist. He will return finally live in China in the early 90s. In the 90s, Ai Weiwei plays a leadership role within the arts community Beijing and founded with his friends shared a kind of artistic creation in eastern Beijing.
omnipresent in the blogosphere (see his profile blogger), Ai Weiwei is a pioneering new media. It has an official website, several blogs s staff (the most widely read in China and the world according to him), a twitter account and sufficient interest to be discussed and cited frequently by other bloggers and sinophones English. Currently, However, the media's favorite Ai Weiwei are no longer accessible from China or closed. (At this subject, read here ).
In addition to his personal interventions, Ai Weiwei has become one of the most interviewed public figures in recent years. You can see examples here and here.
Professional success Ai Weiwei alone evokes the success of economic reforms and open policies that enabled many young Chinese talent to become known outside China's borders. The symbol the success of the artist now sits in the center of Beijing. Indeed, Ai Weiwei, is the designer of the superb stadium bird's nest.
The famous letter
Ai Weiwei said at the outset of the economic progress of China over the past 60 years. However, as he points out, is not won.
"As We mark how far China has come in the Past 60 years, it's worth noting how far aussi The country has yet to go."
I love the way in which Ai Weiwei brings his criticism. Too often, observers from China favor a trench swing analysis between "The Chinese superpower is so dynamic and more stable than ever" and "Everything goes from bad to worse in China." Here, he criticizes without falling into the extreme. Ai Weiwei
recalls the idealism of the Chinese Communist revolution, the contrast to the current state of affairs.
"When the Communists Were fighting for control of the Nation In The 1930s and 40s, They Promised democracy, a free press and independent judicial system annually. Six decades after They Came to power, none of Those exist. "
The memory of the terrible fate of the family Ai, forced into exile in Xinjiang in the late 50 is used by Ai Weiwei as a representation of the excesses of revolutionary history.
Ai Weiwei continues his criticism by pointing out the persistence of injustice in China today. It then discusses the scandals surrounding the earthquake in Sichuan in 2008. Many families complain that local governments have planed the construction of schools do not meet safety codes in force. In other words, they accuse them of being so responsible for the deaths of their children and demanding compensation.
Being a deaf ear, then the Chinese government has banned all Chinese citizens to accept interviews with the foreign press. Tan Zuoren, unblogueur Sichuan, was then made the spokesman of the anger of victims of the earthquake. (Tan Zuoren can certainly be seen as one of the participants weiquan yundong, civil rights movement already discussed in this blog.)
In March 2009 he was arrested and charged with subversion of state power. His crime: having "dirty" reputation of China by spreading false information about malpractice surrounding the construction of schools. (Tan's trial, also was accused of having received emails from Wang Dan, "anti-revolutionary elements" and trying to organize an event commemorated June 4) At trial
ZUREN Tan, Ai Weiwei went to Chengdu to testify. He is then brutally received by local police forces. By his own admission, the harshness of the altercation caused his recent hospitalization in Germany in early September. see a recent photo here.
Thus, Ai Weiwei has decried the lack of accountability of the Chinese government and its refusal to accept his faults. He claims ownership of the state of the victims in Sichuan. He said the case of Sichuan and the arrest of Tan Zuoren are merely examples of the state of affairs in China. At the same time, he decries also how unworthy with which he was treated by the authorities (violence) while attending the trial as a witness.
That ultimately requires Ai Weiwei? How does he see the future of China?
"What I'm talking about is Nothing Like the Revolutionary Communist Party democracy thats the Promised oz. It Is The Fundamental Matter of Protecting one's individual" Dignity. " p>
Ai Weiwei concluded his article by urging Chinese citizens to call in this 60th anniversary, accountability of the heads of their mistakes. More provocative yet, Ai Weiwei then predicts the fall next plan:
"It Is About Demanding answers and accountability from one's government. If Chinese Citizens Do That, Then this 60th anniversary Will not just be about the Party congratulating Itself. It Will Be The Final Hurrah of a dying system. "
Such testimony (of Germany signed this time) would certainly not have been made by a resident of China 10 years ago. Greater flexibility in state surveillance has led to some form of freedom of expression in China. In addition, Ai Weiwei is a bit of an untouchable in the Chinese community. Too well known to be locked with a key, too stubborn to monetize his silence it is one of the most vibrant voices of small and large misfortunes of daily life in China.
Valerie Nichols, Hong Kong
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