To many Chinese readers, the report of an outburst by Premier Wen
Jiabao
helped define Beijing's take-charge response to the quake—though that
report has never been officially corroborated. Nor has it run on state
TV, or
over the Xinhua News Agency wire. Yet the individual who filed it
figures to have been
with one of the four press and broadcast organs in China’s official
press detail. The word around
journalist circles is that he or she works for China Central
Television.
His or her
dispatch was neither agitprop wire copy, nor an “internal report” designated strictly
for high-level consumption. Rather, it was a barrage of voyeuristic tittle-tattle
fired out over OQ, the leading Chinese IM interface. From there it was spewed
across Chinese bulletin boards and blogs (such as this one).
In the exchange, purportedly recorded the night of the May 12 quake, the mystery micro-blogger claims to be in
the company of Premier Wen Jiabao. Amid the craggy rubble of a decimated school
building, Wen is seen stumbling and suffering a bloody cut on his arm. Yet he waves
off medical assistance. Minutes later, he’s taking command of this rescue scene,
and going commando on military officers being tested by conditions up ahead. Sometimes the chronicler refers to Wen
by the reverential moniker lao yezi,
which means Grandpa. The term was often reserved for the just
magistrate in dynastic times.
It all seems
the stuff of Red Army lore, except the drama is bloggishly raw. A
number of Chinese journalist sources said they took the thread to be the real
deal. Most added that the leaker, who seems to be
messaging to and fro with a friend or junior colleague, likely acted alone, rather than on behalf of the propaganda apparatus. One said the text messenger
was a journalist for CCTV.
The transcript
offers a relatively rare behind-the-scenes peep not made for official
dissemination. But more interesting and unusual is the fact that it did
officially surface. Domestic publishing rights to the words and actions of
central leaders are exclusively held by official media outlets, and Party
offices must vet the material first. Yet state radio cited one of Wen’s barbs,
and the Guangzhou Daily, administered by the Communist Party committee of
China's tabloidish town, picked up a detailed bright about the QQ exchange from
Hong Kong’s Wen Hui Po, under the headline: "Wen
Jiabao: I Just Want the 100,000 People out of Danger, That's an Order." Reposted
on Sina.com, it drew nearly 35,000 comments in nine hours.
Besides the
parts that filtered out, according to one Chinese journalist source, Wen also had far
less palatable words for the military men at the time. Words which the journalist
deemed unfit to repeat.
Herewith are highlights of the transcript, translated by my colleague Wang Zhenru:
10:07:29
The scene’s simply too hard to watch.
10:08:33
The sixty-something Premier has already cried himself to pieces.
10:10:16
The area just dug up has now collapsed again.
10:11:24
This lousy weather is still raining. Now do-or-die orders have been transmitted down to soldiers on the frontlines: they must brave the rain and press on with the rescue.
10:11:30
I’m right here on the scene.
10:11:56
Now I’m in the city of Dujiangyan.
10:13:24
Transportation’s at a standstill. It’s very hard to move in rescue workers and goods.
10:13:47
As of now we’re still not allowed to go to Wenchuan.
10:15:21
Transportation to Wenchuan is completely blocked. I don’t know what the scene’s really like right now I don't know. But the Premier gave orders this morning that the army must enter the city, no matter what the costs.
10:16:03
The lousy weather’s still raining. Despite many attempts planes still cannot land. Now the paratroopers are about to take off.
10:17:36
Planes are airdropping supplies into Wenchuan.
10:20:06
It’s looking bad for the 300-plus students pressed under the rubble. Just now another rescue effort failed. Now the Premier is directing one more.
10:20:47
Oh no! The Premier fell down!
10:21:35
I am transmitting photos to Beijing right, but those that haven’t been approved cannot be publicized.
10:22:21
My colleagues and I have nine computers on right now and are all transmitting news at once.
10:22:37
QQ is so slow at critical times.
10:23:39
The rescue commando is going in once again.
10:25:04
If you could see what Grandpa looks like now, you’d immediately begin to cry.
10:26:40
Grandpa’s arm’s bleeding. He’s pushed away the medical worker who was about to dress his wound.
10:27:09
Good news. A student has been found alive.
10:28:00
The Premier’s rushed over to a point where walls have collapsed, he’s helping
out.
10:28:13
It’s Xiang’e Township Middle School.
10:28:33
[Someone’s] been dragged out and doctors are trying to resuscitate [him or
her].
10:28:56
Not that many soldiers are here yet.
10:29:07
Transportation is too rough.
10:29:42
It’s uncertain whether or not [the person] will live. An oxygen bottle’s been hung
up.
10:31:06
Oh, another part’s collapsed.
10:31:28
One of the commando troops has been buried.
10:31:40
Wait a minute, let me go up and take a look.
10:36:24
I’m back. He’s been resuscitated.
10:37:16
The latest news is that 100,000 residents in Pengzhou are in danger!
10:38:49
Due to the heavy rain, the military engineers have failed to put a bridge
despite many attempts. There are signs of landslides nearby. A phone call’s
come in directly to the Premier. Conditions are very dangerous.
10:39:19
Due to the collapse of a bridge, 100,000 people in Penzhou are stuck in the mountains. There’s no way for rescue workers and supplies to get
in. There’ve already been signs of landslides.
10:41:11
The Premier shouted over the mobile, "I don't care what you have to do, I want
those 100,000 people out of danger. That’s an order." Then he threw down
the phone.
10:41:33
This is the first time I’ve ever seen the premier so severe.
10:41:54
Still haven't been notified about going to Wenchuan as of yet. I reckon the
situation there is still bad.
10:42:16
Right now I’m in the communications tent.
10:43:54
The latest information from Wenchuan is that rain has died down. Supplies have been airdropped in. Paratroopers are boarding planes at surrounding airports.
10:45:19
Now all the foreign journalists are watching keenly as special troops known as
China’s most elite take the stage in public for the first time.
10:46:50
Now the Premier is speaking to commanders of the troops boarding the planes.
10:47:41
The premier says to the commanders: "I just want have one thing to say to
you. It’s the people who support you. You figure out what you gotta do".
Loading Menu