CCTV FOLLIES 12.11 Jiang's good riddance
Xi Jinping had no time for Jiang Zemin once he obtained power himself. His predecessor endured a kind of high-end house arrest under media blackout but now that he's dead, Xi's CCP is pulling out all the stops to show how much it cares.
The first 9 minutes of Xinwen Lianbo are thus dedicated to a man who couldn't get a second of his own air time during his long sequestered retirement, but now he's no longer a threat. The real threat is any unrest in the wake of his passing and CCP is putting a full stop to that.
CCTV documents in almost clinical detail the journey of a box of bones from a memorial room in Zhongnanhai to a chute on a boat off Shanghai, from the center of CCP power to the sea.
A guard posted at the famous long red wall of Zhongnanhai salutes. For the compound staff, it's hats off as they pay their last respects, even though Jiang hadn't lived there in decades.
The remains are taken by his son to a waiting limo.
The quiet motorcade slowly tools out of Zhongnanhai compound.
It's a final goodbye to Changan Boulevard and its broken rainbow of broken dreams.
The entourage is not unexpected at the airport.
And it's wheels up...
The view is good. The lakes near Zhongnanhai can be seen near the top, the Bird's Nest stadium center right.
Arrival in Shanghai. The roads are devoid of traffic as befitting any CCP VIP motorcade.
The journey to the riverside is swift, ship shape naval officers await.
"Comrade Jiang will forever live in our hearts"
The over-the-top effort invested in pageantry has a late dynastic feel to it.
The PLA Naval vessel is pristine as are the goose-stepping officers.
A tiny naval whistle is blown.
And it's anchors away...
Shanghai can be seen at a great distance.
Family members pour handfuls of ash, bone and flowers down the specially constructed chute.
Jiang's remains mingle with the muddy waters...
"滚滚长江东逝水 "
"Rolling down the Yangtse River, flowing to the East"
The sequence concludes with these famous lyrics cut to views of the roiling waters of the sea and a seagull soaring in the sky.
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