Chinese censors suppressing Shanghai stampede coverage: Report

Shanghai, Jan 3:

Chinese officials in Shanghai have erected a wall of censorship on news related to the deadly New Years Eve stampede as they fear losing their jobs for failing to take preventive security measures to avert the tragedy, a media report today said.

Authorities have brought down a wall of strict censorship on local coverage of the tragedy of the deadly stampede as questions mount over how such a tragedy could have occurred in Chinas wealthiest and best-managed city, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

The censorship was unprecedented and harsh and officials were worried that they could be blamed for the stampede that killed at least 36 people, the Post report said.

Relatives and victims were under close police guard and local and overseas media were told to seek Shanghai propaganda department permission to speak to the injured, it said.

The Communist Partys propaganda department in Shanghai has issued several notices to local media in the past two days, instructing them on various issues, ranging from the scale of coverage and use of photos to interview protocols, according to three senior journalists.

It seems ridiculous that local newspapers were instructed not to use photos showing people mourning for the dead victims, it quoted a senior newspaper editor as saying.

Many district officials and police fear that they were likely to lose their jobs over the incident.

A lot of heads will roll because the tragedy had infuriated state leaders, an official said.

The incident was expected to have political ramifications as the Shanghai branch of the Communist Party of China (CPC) plays an influential role at the centre.

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Chinese censors suppressing Shanghai stampede coverage: Report