Columnist's Comprehensive Coverage of China Crackdown

In this April 13th article, CNN political columnist Jaime FlorCruz weighs in on the crackdown by the Chinese government. Given the development of recent events, it's not surprising that the tone of the article is overwhelmingly negative. However, the colorful language he employs and the quotes he pulls from multiple sources heighten the sense of drama - something that was amiss in the matter-of-fact articles that were published in the immediate wake of the events.

The article starts with a very brief introduction to the crackdown before focusing in on "the latest victim" Ai Wei Wei. In a phone interview with CNN five days after his arrest, his mother said, "I have no idea where he is, why he was taken away, where he is kept now. I am very worried about him. He is very stubborn. He won't change his attitude." Quoting the worried mother of the artist calls upon the sympathy of readers. It also relates that these arrests have impacted not only the lives of those detained but also their loved ones.

The article then goes into detail about Ai's history of political activism and quotes him in a past interview saying, "They crack down on everybody who has different opinions -- not even different opinions, just different attitudes. Simply to have different opinions can cost (dissidents) their life; they can be put in jail, can be silenced and can disappear." This shows that Ai was fully aware of the trouble that any hint of dissent could cause him

'"Mr. Ai Weiwei is under investigation on suspicion of economic crimes," said foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei, answering a reporter's question at a regular press briefing. "It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression." He added, "China is a country under the rule of law ... other countries have no right to interfere."' In using this rarely publicized statement by a Chinese official on the matter, the columnist only confirms the suspicious nature of the Chinese government's actions.

The article then dives into more depth on the background and history of protests in China, offering that "rapid industrialization and urbanization, which have triggered disputes over wages, land seizures, income disparity and pollution" are the underlying causes to yearly dissent. This is useful background information that no other article has provided.

The columnist then quotes a representative of a nonprofit human rights organization in China: "The willingness on the part of the authorities to employ raw power and make individuals simply disappear is a very troubling aspect of this latest effort. It seems aimed at intimidating both those who have already been taken into custody and those who might worry about being next on the list." The writer recounts his personal experience of trying to meet up with a dissenter who buckled under the pressure of these scare tactics. This adds a personal angle and increases the ominous undertones.

The article explains China's struggle to control and contain the spread of information on the Internet with the "Great Firewall," wrapping up with another little known piece of information: "Beijing is gambling that, with its relatively tight grip on information, Ai and other activists at home and overseas can do little to get their message heard at home.
So far, most Chinese do not know who Ai Weiwei is."

This column was much more comprehensive than any of the previous articles on individual developments in the crackdown. While it ups the drama and portrays the Chinese government in a more negative light, it also provides new angles on the issue, which is useful in helping readers to understand these recent events.

-Annie-