» 07/01/2011 09:29 CHINA Hu Jintao warns the party against corruption by Wang Zhicheng In his speech marking official celebrations of 90 years of the CCP, the Chinese president recalls that corruption is likely to lead to the "death" of the Party. In less than 20 years, 18 thousand Chinese officials have stolen and carried out of the country more than 87 billion euros. Political reform and democracy could cure corruption. But the CCP does not want to lose its supremacy.
Beijing (AsiaNews) – Marking celebrations for 90 years of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), President Hu Jintao warned the members saying that the Party is marked by "growing suffering" and that increasing corruption is leading people to loose confidence in the party.
Hu expressed these ideas today in front of thousands of leaders and members gathered in the Great Hall of the People to celebrate the founding of the CCP in 1921.
His words sound out of tune with the frenzy that has characterized China for months, with celebrations, shows, songs, movies, books, television shows on the heroism and great achievements of the party.
Hu said that "incompetence" of some members has "separated it from the people", has created problems, so it is important that "the Party imposes a discipline on its members." In particular, he stressed that "punishing and effectively preventing corruption is key to the winning or losing of people's support and the life or death of the Party," And again: " The fight against corruption remains serious and the task is still arduous,” he added. “Corruption will cost the party the support and trust of the people."
Though off-key compared to the official enthusiasm of celebrations for the CCP’s 90 years, Hu Jintao's speech is not new. Every year he and his premier Wen Jiabao preach against corruption and require obedience to rules, but the results are minimal. A report by the Central Bank of China, published a few weeks ago, says that in less than 20 years of the establishment at least 18 thousand Chinese people have fled abroad, taking with them about 800 billion yuan (equal to 87.24 billion euros) earned through corruption.
The Communist Party was officially founded on 1 July 1921 by a group of intellectuals. In fact, the founding meeting took place July 23 in Shanghai. Under the leadership of Mao Zedong it took power in 1949 after a long civil war with the Nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek, and with the help of Stalin.
In '58 Mao launched the Great Leap Forward campaign, to boost industrial production, by abandoning the countryside and producing a famine that led to the death between 35 and 50 million Chinese.
From 1966 to '76 he launched the crusade of the Cultural Revolution, in which millions died and tens of millions were imprisoned.
After Mao's death in 1976, thanks to Deng Xiaoping, the country began a process of modernization that has led to today’s current economic success.
But power remains with the party's small group of elite leaders who continue to exercise an iron grip on the country's political system, controlling the media and managing the world's largest military.
Many Chinese and foreign analysts say a lack of social and political reform have fosteredthe problems condemned by Hu Jintao such as corruption, government abuses, illegal land seizures, a growing rich-poor divide and pollution issues that threaten the party's future
In all these decades, the leadership has always ruled out a "Western" style democracy, but has never tried alternative routes to the absolute supremacy of the CCP.
