Wildfires in Hunan, a province in south central China, erupted on Oct. 17, but the Chinese media has kept silent on the natural disaster. The fire has been raging for over a week, so far burning down two townships and killing two firefighters.
Chinese netizens blamed the regime’s party congress for the media silence. The national meeting that took place on Oct. 16 to Oct. 22 was the entire focus for the country’s state-backed media.
Chinese media kept silent until Oct. 25, when local residents held a memorial for the deceased firefighters.
Online video captured tens of thousands of local residents gathering and marching with banners to honor the first responders. They chanted, “Safe Trip Home [Rest in Peace].”…