The window closes
Updated on 11 June 2008
After a month's unprecedented openness to the international media, normal service has resumed in China.
As we reported our story on the Parents' Movement we were harrassed by the police in the old pre-earthquake fashion.
We went to the Deyang government office to film bereaved parents petitioning about the collapse of the Jiandi Middle School in which 56 children died.
Officials checked our Foreign Ministry passes and, finding nothing wrong, allowed us to film the parents in the waiting room and corridor.
Several officials filmed us on small cameras. We filmed them filming us. After a while, they kicked us out because "there are cracks in this building so we don't want too many people inside in case there's another earthquake."
We drove to the school, followed by a white 4x4 (registration 73462F). We filmed at the school, until police arrived - apparently summoned by our friends in the white vehicle. Two policemen (Badge numbers 027385 and 027339) told us we had to leave "for our own safety".
The school was now "a temporarily controlled area" for reasons of disease prevention. A police cameraman filmed us at all times. As we left - having more-or-less finished our work - we saw they had just put tape across the entrance.
We set off to meet the parents again. As we passed the white 4x4, the three men inside put their arms across their faces to hide. They then followed us, as did a new car, a black VW saloon (Registration 07299K).
Several officials filmed us on small cameras. We filmed them filming us. After a while, they kicked us out because.
The parents then went to the school, so we turned back, our faithful followers trailing behind. Policeman 027385 was waiting, but found himself unable to prevent us from interviewing parents at the shrine outside the school. He said he had to follow us for our own safety.
We then set off to find a survivor, now followed by three cars; the laest addition sporting a flashing light (unilluminated) on the roof, the word "Police" on the side, and carrying our new friends, Policemen 027385 and 027339.
When we found the neighbourhood we were looking for, Policeman 027385 pulled villagers away apparently to tell them not to talk to us.
One man later asked us if we had been sent by Falun Gong; it wasn't clear if it was the police who had suggested this to him. The villagers started to shout at the police and officials, saying they were the first government representatives to visit their area since the quake.
Policeman 027385 tried to tell us to leave. When we filmed him, he put his hand over the lens. The police cameraman continued to film us, and anyone who talked to us.
After interviewing the survivor, we set off for a rendez-vous with another parent, tailed by white car, black car and police car. We kept getting lost so the whole posse had to reverse up narrow tracks and flimsy bridges.
Policeman 027385 eventually came to ask our driver where the hell we were going, so the driver said he sure as hell didn't know!
Now local officials, regarded by many Chinese as corrupt and lazy, are in charge again, so the old ways have re-emerged.
We reached our rendez-vous, which was the grave of a 15-year-old boy, killed in the school. As we interviewed his weeping mother, the police cameraman thrust his camera right up against her shoulder from behind. She was too distressed to care. We asked him to back off.
The following day, a road block had been set up at the entrance to Jiandi, manned by our friend Policeman 027339.
A notice issued by local Headquarters for Disaster Relief, and pinned to a pillar, said this was for: "Traffic control in certain sections of the road and certain areas." It specified that: "No entering or gathering of people who have no business. No interviews, photographs or video tape by media or other staff without permission. If you do not follow the rules you may be severely punished."
So much for the openness China has shown since the earthquake, the unprecedented access for journalists and local volunteer groups.
Most of the media coverage has been positive, because the rescue effort was rapid and efficient, while political figures like Prime Minister Wen Jiabao showed compassion and leadership.
But now local officials, regarded by many Chinese as corrupt and lazy, are in charge again, so the old ways have re-emerged.
For us it was not a big problem; we got our story. But we are talking about grief-stricken parents, desperate to tell their stories and to get justice, being intimidated and denied their rights.
Some will presumably knuckle under and stop talking to the media. Having lost their only child, others have nothing left to lose. No-one can intimidate them any more.
