Jiang Zemin Must Bear Responsibility for the SARS Disaster

While people were completely unaware, SARS developed into a horrific widespread plague that threatens people's lives. As many analytical articles have pointed out, SARS did not have to lead to such a horrendous situation. The reason for this happening is the government's information blockade, which made people miss the opportunity to take active measures of prevention and treatment. Now, the full-fledged plague is causing tremendous loss of people's lives.

In order to appease strong outside criticism, the Chinese ruling Party announced the removal from office of Health Minister Zhang Wenkang and Beijing Mayor Meng Xuenong. In fact, it is easy to see that Jiang Zemin, who is hiding inside Zhongnanhai, is the behind-the-scenes person who is blocking the facts about SARS. Zhang Wenkang is only a scapegoat.

According to published information, SARS made its first appearance in Guangdong Province on November 16, 2002, which created panic among the people. It happened during the meeting of the Sixteenth Party Congress led by Jiang Zemin where he was actively seeking another term as the chairman of the Central Military Commission. In order not to burst the bubble of "peace and prosperity" and not to stain Jiang's image and his "Three Represents" theory, in order for Jiang to successfully keep his power, Li Changchun, Guangdong Province Party Secretary at that time, followed Jiang's orders and tried his best to cover up the facts from the top level to the low, which caused SARS to develop and spread around the world. The Chinese people, most of all, are the greatest victims of this deception and lies.

In February 2003, SARS reappeared in Guangdong Province, which again created panic. However, at this time the "Two Party Conferences" were about to open. Since Jiang Zemin was seeking another term as chairman of the Central Military Commission, anything that may damage the reputation of the highest Party leader and damage the ruling Party would naturally be stifled, and the SARS situation was again concealed.

Li Changchun came to power as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Party Committee, starting out from the position of Guangdong Province Party Secretary. He is in charge of Party propaganda and is also directly responsible for covering up the facts about SARS, which started in Guangdong Province under his leadership. This was of course unbeneficial news for him if the fact was reported, since the cover-up of SARS serves his interests. Li Changchun, in charge of Party media, is also one of Jiang's well-known cronies. He therefore would not stain Jiang Zemin's face.

After the world was exposed the existence of SARS, Zhang Wenkang repudiated, and constantly camouflaged and created lies. What is his purpose for doing this? According to media reports, Zhang Wenkang was Jiang Zemin's health consultant when Jiang Zemin was the Secretary of Shanghai Party Committee and had an intimate personal relationship with Jiang Zemin. He followed Jiang Zemin during his rise to power and was promoted to health minister by Jiang Zemin in 1998. He began a second term in March 2003, and is also Jiang Zemin's well-trusted crony.

Zhang Wenkang is only a member of the Central Party Committee. He dared to make up so many lies certainly because he received orders from the highest. Zhang Wenkang is at most Jiang's watchdog that upholds Jiang's image.
When SARS was spreading rampantly, due to outside pressure, the new group of leaders diverted from Jiang Zemin group's plan of continuing the cover-up, although they received tremendous pressure from Jiang Zemin's group.

Jiang Zemin's group still controls the great power, though, and is in charge of the news and media. Right now, they are still trying their best to cover up the fact about the plague. Many evidences show Jiang group's headquarters, Shanghai, is continuing to cover up the facts about SARS. On April 24, the WHO pointed out Shanghai government is covering up the facts about SARS, and they think there are more cases than reported by the government. They also warned the number of cases will increase.

Regarding the issue of SARS, it is obvious that Jiang's political power group ignored people's lives in order to maintain Jiang's personal image, as they devoted their best effort in covering up the facts about SARS. Right now, the fact that SARS is spreading everywhere is directly attributable to Jiang Zemin and his group's cover-up and lies. Jiang Zemin is the "eminence grise" behind the façade, and he has to face undeniable, historic responsibilities.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.ca/mh/articles/2003/4/25/49026.html