From Asia solidarity, but also criticism of the United States after Boston Marathon attack
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The news of the two bombs that exploded during the Boston Marathon has generated an avalanche of solidarity on the Asian blogosphere. But here and there is also some criticism of U.S. policy, especially in the Middle East, seen as the cause of this terrorist attack.
Yesterday at 14.50, local time,
two bombs exploded near Copley Square in Boston, almost at the finish line of
the amateur marathon which draws young and old, children, people with
disabilities. The
explosions caused the death of three people, among them a child of 8, who was
with his mother to watch his father compete in the race. The
father and mother of the child are among the hundreds injured. At
least 17 of them are in a critical condition, and some have had to undergo
amputations.
Police
said they had not previously received any sign of possible attacks. So far no group has
claimed responsibility. For
fear of terrorist attacks, security has been increased in New York and Washington.
The Boston Marathon this year
brought together about 25 thousand runners and hundreds of thousands of
spectators.
In
China, on websites and blogs, there has
been an outpouring of sympathy for the pain of Americans. One
post in particular has provoked a lot of interest: that of a Chinese journalist
who claims to have been among the spectators in Boston, and who reported news
of the explosions and the situation in real time.
Some
comment on appreciating the freedom of the media in the U.S., "All websites and television stations
are reporting live, there is no reporting ban", reads one post adding in reference to
China, "the need
to change news coverage has become more and more pressing".
Other comments criticize the
United States for its policy in the Middle East. Danhong
Wu, an assistant at the University of Political Science and Law in Beijing,
noted angrily that many sympathizers of the victims of yesterday "choose
to ignore that in early April U.S. troops in Afghanistan killed 17 civilians,
including 12 children, in an
attack against the Taliban. And on the evening of 14 April, a U.S. drone killed
four people in Pakistan. "
From Pakistan, the Taliban have denied any
involvement in the attack yesterday. In
the past, Islamist groups have claimed - more or less directly - participation
in attacks on American soil, among others, the attempted 2010 attack in Times
Square (New York). But this time they deny any
wrongdoing. Asked
by the agency AFP, the Taliban spokesman Ehsan Ehsanullah while claiming the
legitimacy of "attacks on the United States and its allies," added
that "we are not involved in this act."
In India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, condemning the violence in
Boston, expressed solidarity with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism. He
wrote a message to President Barack Obama, expressing astonishment and sadness
for the "outrageous" attack.
Associations
of Indians in America have condemned the blasts: "Terrorism - says the Punjabi
group - has no religion or race or nationality. Whoever the culprit, no religion justifies this
act of violence. We must remain united against extremism."
The Council for American-Islamic
Relations, through its Director Nihad Awad, condemned ", condemn in the strongest possible
terms today's cowardly bomb attack on participants and spectators of the Boston
Marathon. We urge people of all faiths to pray
for the victims and their loved ones and for the speedy recovery of those
injured. We also call for the swift apprehension and punishment of the
perpetrators".
The
people of Malaysia have entrusted Twitter
condolences for the attack on the United States to the popular social network. The
hashtag "Boston Marathon" and # prayforboston were soon trending among
users of the Asian country. Marathon
runner Chin Ann, who is set to race in the Philippines this weekend, ensures
that he will pray for the dead and observe a minute of silence. He
has also written on his profile that "the joy of running a marathon will
never be the same." Even
the user Aric Ting expresses shock and mourning for the attack and ensures
"prayers from Malaysia to Boston" for the "tragic event. My
heart and my prayers are with the families and friends of the victims."
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15/03/2018 09:17
