Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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In China, Even Simple Online Campaign for COVID-19 Dead Is Target for
Censorship

Hong Shen

   WASHINGTON - Wuhan resident Zhang Hai posted an announcement on a
   Chinese social media platform this week asking for donations to build a
   monument that would have the names and photos of all the coronavirus
   victims in China.

   He chose the day to announce the memorial, May 4, because it is an
   important historic day for many Chinese people. The May Fourth
   Movement, widely known as the "new culture movement," marked the
   political awakening of China's youth, and movement towards a
   pro-democratic China back in 1919. Freedom of speech was among one of
   the key demands by the protesters then.

   Zhang, who lost his father to the coronavirus that surfaced in Wuhan,
   said that 101-year old message has special relevance today.

   "Because everyone who died, including my father, were victims of
   misinformation. A monument will remind us of this dark period, to make
   sure history won't repeat itself." He told VOA in an interview.

   Zhang said he still supports China's ruling communist party but thinks
   local officials should be held responsible for initially hiding the
   fact that the virus could spread among humans.

   Zhang Hai's dad, Zhang Lifa, was a veteran of the People's Liberation
   Army, who had spent decades working on China's nuclear weapons program.
   He died on Feb 1at a hospital in Wuhan from complications of the
   coronavirus.

   Zhang Hai said that in January, his father fell and broke his leg. They
   traveled from Guangdong, where they lived, to Wuhan, their hometown,
   for surgery. The virus was spreading in Wuhan at the time, but local
   officials were playing down the risk of human-to-human transmission.
   Zhang Hai is certain that his father contracted the virus during his
   stay at the hospital.

   "Had I known the risk, I wouldn't proceed with the trip," Zhang Hai
   said. "My father has contributed greatly to this country, and now he
   passed away because of a huge mistake by the local authorities. Why
   can't we ask for accountability?"

   This push for accountability from Chinese citizens is a theme U.S.
   officials have also highlighted in recent days, in an effort to reveal
   how Beijing has thwarted international investigations into the origin
   of the virus and how it continues to shut down any internal critics, no
   matter how small.

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