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China whitewashing Bo scandal with wife's trial: activists
Chinese authorities are seeking to whitewash the alleged crimes of fallen leader Bo Xilai and protect his political backers by shifting the blame on his wife who will be tried for murder, said activists.
Chinese authorities are seeking to whitewash the alleged crimes of fallen leader Bo Xilai and protect his political backers by shifting the blame on his wife who will be tried for murder, said activists.
Bo's wife Gu Kailai has been charged with homicide over the November 2011 death of British business associate Neil Heywood.
The evidence against her is "irrefutable and substantial", the state media said, indicating the authorities are intent on settling the case at the earliest.
But observers said it was much less clear whether wider corruption allegations against Bo would ever be examined.
Bo, who became famous for his draconian crackdown on criminal elements and a Maoist-style "red revival" campaign in southwest Chongqing city, fell from grace when his former right-hand man and police chief Wang Lijun fled to a US consulate to seek asylum, after reportedly confronting Bo with information related to Heywood's murder.
Analysts and political activists say the Communist Party will be keen to see the back of the scandal and neutralise the risk it could pose to other senior figures, before a once-in-a-decade leadership transition due in the autumn.
"They will put on a political farce, a fake show, and then when another scandal erupts, they will do it all over again," said former top Communist Party leader Bao Tong.
While Bo is being probed for corruption, observers say that Gu's impending trial will now take up the limelight.
"It is the same old thing, they are continuing to cover things up," added Tong.
Heywood allegedly had commercial dealings with Bo and his wife several years ago.
Activists insisted that accounts of Bo's corruption and his wife's alleged crime should be examined in relation to each other, rather than using the publicity over one to whitewash the other.