Mass protest against covid lockdown erupts in Urumqi city, Xinjiang province, Mayor tries to appease the angry crowd and promises quick lifting

[beijingwalker]

Mass protest against covid lockdown erupts in Urumqi city, Xinjiang province, Mayor tries to appease the angry crowd and promises quick lifting

 

[beijingwalker]

Huge Crowds singing Chinese National Anthem and waving the national flags to confront the police and Xinjiang government top leaders on the scene

 

[beijingwalker]

Policeman is being surrounded and reprimanded by a crowd for trying to manhandle a young student

 

[Viet]

Looking from the sideline it’s good for us. The longer the more painful the lockdown the more business will move to Vietnam.

Win win.

 

[etylo]

Looking from the sideline it’s good for us. The longer the more painful the lockdown the more business will move to Vietnam.

Win win.

Yeah, you ill viet, you can only dream.

 

[beijingwalker]

The Chinese government should listen to the grivenances of the Chinese public and open up China immediately, I worry that once the govenrment loses 人心, they can never get it back again.

 

[flowerfan2020]

Xi has to listen to the people. I really disappoint at him about this Covid lock down. I think it is really stupid.

Looking from the sideline it’s good for us. The longer the more painful the lockdown the more business will move to Vietnam.

Win win.

Don't be too happy yet, Viet. Vietnam's life is on China. Why you think Vietnam president visited China?

 

[beijingwalker]

China’s Urumqi to ease Covid lockdown amid public anger over deadly fire​

By Heather Chen and CNN's Beijing bureau
Published 2:27 AM EST, Sat November 26, 2022

Chinese authorities said Saturday they would lift a months-long Covid lockdown in the country’s far western region of Xinjiang “in stages”, following protests over a deadly fire at an apartment building in the regional capital of Urumqi.

At least 10 people were killed and nine injured when the fire broke out on Thursday, according to the local fire department, and public anger over the tragedy has grown with the emergence of video footage that appears to show lockdown measures delaying firefighters from accessing the scene and reaching victims.

One video that was widely circulating on Chinese social media on Friday evening shows a large group of people marching to a government building in Urumqi and chanting “end lockdowns,” while another shows some residents breaking through lockdown barriers and quarreling with officials.

The city, with a population of close to 4 million people, has been under a strict lockdown since August, yet despite the measures its daily Covid infections continue to hover around 100.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, local government officials promised they would lift lockdown measures “in stages” – allowing residents in “low risk” compounds to leave their buildings.

Sui Rong, the propaganda chief of Urumqi, claimed the city had “basically eliminated Covid cases in society” because of the lockdown measures.

China's Urumqi to ease Covid lockdown amid public anger over deadly fire | CNN

Chinese authorities said Saturday they would lift a months-long Covid lockdown in the country's far western region of Xinjiang "in stages", following protests over a deadly fire at an apartment building in the regional capital of Urumqi.

edition.cnn.com

 

[kankan326]

This is why I'm against election politics. People are short sighted. Mind my words. Once Chinese government gives up zero covid policy, when China's medical system collapses and millions of people die, still people will attribe all faults to government. Among them, you will see those who protest zero covid policy today. And you will also see some PDF members, who mock China's zero covid policy today, will mock China's ongoing tragedies caused by covid.

I think Chinese government does need to do something. Like giving money to low income people.

 

[beijingwalker]

I don't know even a single person still supports this stupid zero covid policy anymore in China, and I m being very honest.

 

[JSCh]

Concerning the fire, announcement regarding questions raised by the public.

Fire appear to start from electrical fault. The apartment building is designated as low-risk zone, therefore residents are not stop from going out since 20th. The obstacle that blocked the fire engine is existing and not a structure built by covid policy.

Basically the tragic deaths of the fire are not caused primarily because of lock-down. But I expect people/group that want to believe otherwise would continue to ignore those fact.

 

[JSCh]

Urumqi denies blocking residential building where 10 killed in fire, vows to investigate accident - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

The local government of Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Friday night denied claims that the doors were locked in a 21-floor building where a fire broke out on Thursday night, killing 10 residents and injuring nine. The local government said it has set up an investigation group and will severely punish whoever is responsible for the accident.

Officials from the city said that the fire broke out at around 8 pm on Thursday night, and was put out at around 11 pm. Ten people were killed and nine others were injured after a fire broke out in the 21-floor residential building in Urumqi. The nine injured have been hospitalized for treatment due to inhalation of toxic smoke and are not in danger of losing their lives.

The fire started on the 15th floor of the 21-floor building and spread to the 17th floor, with smoke spreading to the 21st floor. The cause of the fire, according to a local official, was a fire on a patch board in a bedroom, based on the initial investigation, said the media report.

Urumqi is among the cities that have undergone stringent epidemic control measures with key districts of the city put under static management since August, according to media reports.

After the accident, there were questions about whether rescue efforts had been delayed because some parts of the city are still under lockdown and residents could not run out of the building timely. Pictures began to circulate online showing that exit doors of the residential building had been wired shut, preventing residents from escaping.

The district head of Tianshan, where the building is located, said at the press conference that after rounds of checks, it has been confirmed that all the unit entrance doors of the building were not locked, and pictures appearing that they were locked with wires were photoshopped.

The official said that the community where the building is located had been designated as a low-risk area since November 12, and residents have been allowed to walk out on a staggering basis since November 20.

Apart from the direct cause of the accident, another official from the city's fire department also said the fireproof door of the floor where the fire broke out had been open, which propagated the spread of fire, and the road leading to the building was occupied by other vehicles, making it difficult for fire engines to get to the site quickly.

The official also said some residents were unable to protect themselves as they were not familiar with the safety exits.

The officials said at the Friday press conference that Urumqi has established an investigation team, and will severely punish whoever is responsible.

 

[beijingwalker]

Concerning the fire, announcement regarding questions raised by the public.
View attachment 900635

Fire appear to start from electrical fault. The apartment building is designated as low-risk zone, therefore residents are not stop from going out since 20th. The obstacle that blocked the fire engine is existing and not a structure built by covid policy.

Basically the tragic deaths of the fire are not caused primarily because of lock-down. But I expect people/group that want to believe otherwise would continue to ignore those fact.

It's a lie, muiltiply footages clearly showed the fire trucks couldn't get into the neighborhood and close to the the burning building, some people had to use big hammers to break the road blocks leading to the compound.

 

[beijingwalker]

Students of Nanjing communication university hold a rally and vigil for the victims of Urumqi fire tragedy

The president of Nanjing communication university threatens the students " One day you are going to pay for what you are doing now".

Can't believe such words can be coming out of a university president, he really is not suitable for this job.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Sorry for the victims. But I don't think it will change anything. Zero covid policy is a Xi Jinping trademark ., and its a policy he strongly identifies with. Its basically part of his political capital. He has linked zero covid with his own political hallmark. So how can he suddenly explain to people that it was almost for nothing after locking down and disrupting people's life for over over 3 years and counting. In short its not a health issue anymore but a political one now. Reason I don't see that changing anytime soon. Maybe a few years from now, barring a major shift in Chinese politics.