(http://youtu.be/23h6NyvLp-E)
Li Chengpeng Attacked During Beijing Book Signing
(http://youtu.be/p7TAQtGwNGE)
The censorship debate over Southern Weekly may seem to have waned. But the surprisingly mild way Chinese authorities responded to reporters there is contrasted with how they’re treating other supporters of free press.
For popular author and online blogger, Li Chengpeng, a book signing on Saturday in Chengdu turned into a silent protest.
Li was in Chengdu to release his book, “The Whole World Knows.” But security police told Li he couldn’t address the crowd, talk with his fans, or even say “thank you” to them. To that, Li wrote on his twitter-like Weibo, “they’re nuts.”
[Ye Kuangzheng, Chinese Poet]:
“Chinese authorities are still doing what they’ve always done, trying to maintain so-called stability. That’s why it issues orders like these that the public finds ridiculous.”
“Chinese authorities are still doing what they’ve always done, trying to maintain so-called stability. That’s why it issues orders like these that the public finds ridiculous.”
Li Chengpeng is an influential person, especially on China’s fast expanding social media. He has more than six million followers on Sina Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. During the Southern Weekly storm, he voiced strong support for a free press in China.
Li’s wild popularity means Chinese authorities are careful not to step too far, for fear it would incite his fans. Still the gag order for the book signing drew a strong statement from Li.
He turned up in a t-shirt on which he had written, “I love you all.” He also wore a facemask to protest the gag order. Several fans also turned up wearing masks in solidarity with Li.
Li Chengpeng was formerly a sports commentator. He’s a well-respected essayist and social critique. In an interview with Japanese media The Asahi Shimbun during the Southern Weekly censorship debate, Li exclaimed that China did not need an aircraft carrier or the status of the world’s number two economy, but just a newspaper that tells the truth.
Chinese Author Attacked at Book Signing, but Remains Defiant
By Frank Fang and Gary Pansey
Epoch Times Staff
Epoch Times Staff
Li Chengpeng at his book signing event in Sichuan. He wore a black mouth mask, indicating that he had been censored, and wrote “I love you all” on his T-shirt. (Weibo.com)
Book signings are normally sedate affairs, but liberal Chinese author Li Chengpeng had to fend off attackers—one who tossed a knife, another who punched him in the head—while introducing his new work The Whole World Knows, Monday in Beijing.
Li is a widely-followed opinion setter who has six million readers on China’s Sina Weibo, the Twitter-like service. “The Whole World Knows” is actually Li’s first book and is a collection of short essays. Since going on sale a few days ago it has topped the best-selling chart on a number of websites.
The Party government in Sichuan has curtailed the selling of his book. At his book event in Chengdu, the capital of that province, on Sunday, Li was told that he could not speak to the crowd. The news of Li being suppressed, along with the recent attack, have become a cause célèbre on the Chinese Internet, with a torrent of commentary and forwarding.
A topic room dedicated to the beating and harassment of Li has been established on Sina Weibo, and more than eleven million posts logged.
The events were first revealed by a netizen called “Fanwei.” He wrote: “Here is what happened! First, Li’s opening remarks were hard to hear as the area was packed with his friends and supporters and many patrons were kept outside. Next, at 5 p.m., a guy snuck in and elbowed his way to the podium where he punched Li in the head. The man, named Yan, was caught as he tried to escape.”
“Then, around 7 p.m., another man was in line for Li’s autograph when he pulled out a knife and threw it at the author, who was momentarily boxed in by the crowd. The knife missed…”
Posts elaborating on what happened have also been forwarded to tens of thousands of readers.
A video later emerged showing that the individual originally intended to place the knife, wrapped in red paper, on the table. After he was hustled away by guards he resorted to tossing it at, or to, the author.
According to a Weibo post from activist and former Tibetan official “Doje Cering,” “a fight did not break out as there was a strong police presence.”
A perturbed Li told Deutsche Welle after the event that thousands of readers were there, including some from other provinces, and that poet Liu Shahe, who is in his eighties, was forced by security to remain seated in the audience, instead of congratulating the author.
Li, unable to hold back his anger and emotion, said: “Thousands of readers have come and I have provided them with warmth. Likewise, I have also brought up a sense of warmth to this country, and everyone who is lost in this era.”
A netizen wrote, “I don’t agree with your point of view, but I will defend your right to talk freely with my life. If somebody could punch another person, for the simple reason of having a difference of opinion, what kind of society is that?”
After the event in Beijing, Li will host another book-signing event in Shenzhen on the Jan. 15.
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大家都来看”九评共产党” ( VCD, 书)!
Let’s find “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party”(VCD, books)!
快上大纪元声明退出共产党和共产党其它组织(/团/队)，抹去邪恶的印记!
Quit the Evil Chinese Communist Party or its affiliated organizations today!
