CHINA: Beijing citizens react to news that Bo Xilai has been suspended from the elite ranks of China's Communist Party, as a Hong Kong analyst says the allegations are a good excuse for President Hu Jintao to 'marginalize' Bo

Record ID: 858855

  • Title: CHINA: Beijing citizens react to news that Bo Xilai has been suspended from the elite ranks of China's Communist Party, as a Hong Kong analyst says the allegations are a good excuse for President Hu Jintao to 'marginalize' Bo
  • Date: 12th April 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF CHINESE NEWSPAPERS WITH HEADLINES REPORTING BO XILAI OUSTING
  • Embargoed: 27th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, Hong Kong, China
  • City:
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVAEBPAHNAF4P4UNGH1SHSC45L0P
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Beijing citizens on Wednesday (April 11) were divided over the Chinese Communist Party's decision to oust former high-flying politician Bo Xilai from its top ranks.
    The news first broke on Tuesday (April 10) evening on state media, with China's official news agency, Xinhua also reporting that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, was suspected in the murder of British citizen Neil Heywood.
    Xinhua said evidence indicated Heywood's death was a homicide and Gu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun, an assistant in Bo's household, were "highly suspected". It cited a dispute over unspecified "economic interests" between Gu and Heywood that "constantly intensified".
    Gu and Zhang had been "handed over to the judicial authorities", it said - meaning they have been detained.
    Until last month, Bo was the local Communist Party chief in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, where his policies spurred rapid development and made him popular among the people.
    He had widely been seen as a contender for a top post in China's next leadership, which is to be settled later this year. But he was fired from the post in March, amid a growing controversy.
    The decision to suspend Bo from the party's top bodies does not mean he has been expelled from the party.
    Reaction was mixed on the streets of Beijing on Wednesday, as residents reacted with surprise to the news of Bo's suspension and allegations against his family.
    "He started with the crackdown on organized crime and pornography and he did have some achievements. So it was quite a pity after what had happened," said 66-year-old retiree Mr. He.
    Other locals believe the Communist Party has made the right decision.
    "He sings red, and smashes black. But he is corrupt. It's an insult to the people. It's so repulsive," said 56-year-old civil servant Mr. Huang.
    One Hong Kong-based analyst said the scandal was just what Bo's political enemies were looking for to sideline him from his brash style and campaigning efforts for high office.
    "Well certainly, the Chinese judicial system is under the control of the Communist Party, however, I think if a foreign businessman is involved, this attracts more attention from the Chinese police and judicial authorities. However, it's also true that President Hu Jintao and his dominant youth league faction has been looking for excuses and pretext to get Bo Xilai to put him out of contention, to marginalize him. So this in fact has come as a godsend pretext for them to use to marginalize Bo Xilai and put an end to his political aspirations," said China analyst Willy Lam.
    The announcements are the latest twist in a furore over Bo and his family that erupted after his vice mayor, Wang Lijun, fled to a U.S. consulate for 24 hours in February, saying that Gu was involved in Heywood's death.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register