Sirens wailed across China yesterday as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) eulogized late Chinese president Jiang Zemin (江澤民), hailing him as a patriot who “dedicated his life” to the country.
China’s rulers orchestrated a day of mourning across the nation, with security services ensuring there were no large gatherings on the streets following rare protests in recent weeks.
Jiang died in Shanghai on Wednesday last week at the age of 96 and left a mixed legacy, taking power in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre and leading China toward its emergence as a powerhouse on the global stage.
Photo: AFP
A public memorial service attended by China’s political elite began at 10am in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, bedecked with a giant portrait of the late president as well as slogans lauding him and a massive flower display.
“He dedicated his whole life and energy to the Chinese people, dedicated his life to fighting for national independence, people’s liberation, national prosperity and people’s happiness,” Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) told assembled party faithful at the hall. “The CCP Central Committee calls on the whole party, the army and the people of all ethnic groups in China to turn grief into strength.”
Looking frail and distraught, Jiang’s wife, Wang Yeping (王冶坪), sat in a wheelchair in the front row.
A nationwide “three-minute silence” was held as sirens sounded.
In Jiang’s hometown of Yangzhou, about 100 people gathered in front of his former residence to observe the silence after which they were swiftly dispersed by police.
Flags across the nation were at half-mast, as were those at Chinese government buildings overseas.
Jiang leaves a controversial legacy. State media has hailed him as a great communist revolutionary, highlighting his part in quelling “serious political turmoil,” but his rule also saw the repression of political opposition and religious minorities, as well as a tolerance for the widespread corruption that accompanied China’s economic rise.
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