Beijing: 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, activists say.
In the biggest political scandal to hit China in decades, 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”, state media said last week, indicating the authorities are intent on settling the case as soon as possible. But observers said it was much less clear whether wider corruption allegations against Bo would ever be examined in court.
Bo, the son of a revered Communist revolutionary, won national fame with a draconian crackdown on criminal elements and a Maoist-style “red revival” campaign.
His fall from grace began 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. Bo’s rapid downfall was hugely embarrassing for the Communist Party, and exposed deep divisions at its top level.
Analysts and political activists say the 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.
While Bo is being probed for corruption, observers say that Gu’s impending trial will now take up the limelight.Gu’s trial will be held in eastern Hefei city, far away from Chongqing where Heywood died.
Heywood is believed to have had commercial dealings with Bo and his wife going back several years. (AFP)