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China cruise disaster: death toll passes 100 as relatives complain of harassment China cruise disaster: death toll passes 100 as relatives complain of harassment
(35 minutes later)
The death toll from the Yangtze cruise disaster rose to 103 on Friday as authorities commemorated successfully lifting the wreckage from the water but the 70-year-old sister of one victim condemned the government for ‘inhumane’ treatment of bereaved families. The death toll from the Yangtze river cruise disaster has risen to 103 as authorities commemorate successfully lifting the wreckage from the water but the sister of one victim has condemned the government for its “inhumane” treatment of bereaved families.
Xia Yunchen, whose sister and brother-in-law were among the 456 people on the Eastern Star when it sank on Monday, barged into a press conference being given by the Chinese authorities to vent her anger at how families were being harassed by local officials. Xia Yunchen, 70, whose sister and brother-in-law were among the 456 people on the Eastern Star when it sank on Monday, barged into a press conference being given by Chinese authorities to vent her anger at how families were being harassed by officials.
China: emotions running high in Jianli as family member barges into Yangtze ferry news conference. pic.twitter.com/h7ng5vtsMpChina: emotions running high in Jianli as family member barges into Yangtze ferry news conference. pic.twitter.com/h7ng5vtsMp
Hundreds of relatives from across China have descended on Jianli, the town nearest the disaster site, seeking information about their loved ones.Hundreds of relatives from across China have descended on Jianli, the town nearest the disaster site, seeking information about their loved ones.
But many complain they have been spied on and have had their movements curtailed by officials who appear nervous at the possibility of unrest.But many complain they have been spied on and have had their movements curtailed by officials who appear nervous at the possibility of unrest.
“Is it necessary to treat the common people, one by one, as if you are facing some kind of formidable foe?” Xia, who is from the city of Qingdao, shouted at the press conference, according to Reuters. “Is it necessary to treat the common people, one by one, as if you are facing some kind of formidable foe?” Xia, from the city of Qingdao, shouted at the press conference on Friday, according to Reuters.
“You view the common people as if we are all your enemy. We are taxpayers. We support the government,” she added before being led away. “You had better change your notion of this relationship. You are here to serve us. You need to be humane.” “You view the common people as if we are all your enemy. We are taxpayers. We support the government,” she said before being led away. “You had better change your notion of this relationship. You are here to serve us. You need to be humane.”
For days frustration and anger have been building among relatives, many of whom have serious misgivings over the official explanation for the tragedy.For days frustration and anger have been building among relatives, many of whom have serious misgivings over the official explanation for the tragedy.
Officials blame a freak tornado for causing the Eastern Star to suddenly capsize and sink at around 9.30pm on Monday. Officials blamed a freak tornado for causing the Eastern Star to suddenly capsize and sink at around 9.30pm on Monday. But many families question why the ship did not wait out the storm, as other boats in the area did.
However, many families question why the ship did not wait out the storm, as other boats in the area did.
Doubts over the sunken ship’s safety record have also been raised after reports that it had been cited for violations two years ago.Doubts over the sunken ship’s safety record have also been raised after reports that it had been cited for violations two years ago.
There were further questions on Friday after it emerged that a Chinese journalist had been summoned by police after he photographed a dustbin filled with shredded documents at the headquarters of the company that owned the Eastern Star. There were further questions on Friday after it emerged that a Chinese journalist had been summoned by police after he photographed a rubbish bin filled with shredded documents at the headquarters of the company that owns the Eastern Star.
Zhang Xiaohui, an veteran Chongqing-based journalist for the Economic Observer, said he went to the firm’s Chongqing offices on Wednesday as part of his investigations into the disaster. Zhang Xiaohui, a veteran Chongqing-based journalist for the Economic Observer, said he went to the firm’s Chongqing offices on Wednesday as part of his investigation into the disaster.
“We saw a dustbin by the toilet and it was a very big blue dustbin. The dustbin was full of shredded papers,” Zhang told the Guardian. “I asked a guy from the company’s management why were they destroying documents. The guy didn’t answer and left immediately,” he added. “We saw a dustbin by the toilet and it was a very big blue dustbin. The dustbin was full of shredded papers,” Zhang told the Guardian. “I asked a guy from the company’s management why were they destroying documents. The guy didn’t answer and left immediately.”
Intrigued by his find, Zhang said he had posted a photograph of the shredded documents on Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter. The next day he was summoned by police who ordered him to delete the posts. Zhang said he had posted a photograph of the shredded documents on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter. The next day he was summoned by police who ordered him to delete the posts.
“They accused me of posting untrue things online,” Zhang said.“They accused me of posting untrue things online,” Zhang said.
There is no indication that the destroyed papers were related to the Eastern Star but Zhang’s revelation – and the police reaction – raised further eyebrows among families and Chinese bloggers. There is no indication that the destroyed papers were related to the Eastern Star but Zhang’s revelation – and the police reaction – raised further eyebrows among bereaved families and Chinese bloggers.
Related: Chinese workers face grim task recovering bodies from Eastern StarRelated: Chinese workers face grim task recovering bodies from Eastern Star
Xi Jinping, China’s president, announced a “serious investigation” into the tragedy’s causes on Thursday as Beijing sought to show it was addressing relatives’ concerns. President Xi Jinping announced a “serious investigation” into the tragedy’s causes on Thursday as Beijing sought to show it was addressing relatives’ concerns.
As criticism of the Communist party’s handling of the disaster mounts, the Global Times, a pro-Beijing tabloid, accused foreign journalists of exaggerating the anger of bereaved families.As criticism of the Communist party’s handling of the disaster mounts, the Global Times, a pro-Beijing tabloid, accused foreign journalists of exaggerating the anger of bereaved families.
“Some foreign media eagerly exploit the misery of the families and rub salt in their wounds,” it said in an editorial. “Their effort to stage confrontation is unscrupulous. The victims and their families should be respected.”“Some foreign media eagerly exploit the misery of the families and rub salt in their wounds,” it said in an editorial. “Their effort to stage confrontation is unscrupulous. The victims and their families should be respected.”
A total of 103 bodies had been recovered from the Eastern Star’s wreckage by Friday evening after four iron ropes were used to hoist it from the water, Xu Chengguan, a transport ministry spokesperson, told reporters.A total of 103 bodies had been recovered from the Eastern Star’s wreckage by Friday evening after four iron ropes were used to hoist it from the water, Xu Chengguan, a transport ministry spokesperson, told reporters.
The decision to hoist the upturned vessel from the water was made after rescuers decided the chances of finding further survivors were “very, very remote”, Xu said.The decision to hoist the upturned vessel from the water was made after rescuers decided the chances of finding further survivors were “very, very remote”, Xu said.
Additional reporting by Luna LinAdditional reporting by Luna Lin