The Web And The Fall Of Shanghai Gang

Shanghai's Party Chief Chen Liangyu was fired. What is the role of the Chinese Internet?

Hong Kong's broadsheet Ming Pao:

(In translation)

Sources said a few hours before Xinhua announced the removal of Chen Liangyu, the Chinese Internet authority suddenly ordered portal sites to open their online forums and not to limit netizens' speech. The order indicated that the authority expected the news of Chen's removal would certainly gain people's approval. Sina had recorded some 50,000 posts a few hours after the announcement. 99% of which were praise for the decision.

有消息指出，在新华社公布陈良宇罢官前数小时，内地网络管理部门突然下令各门户网站开放「新闻跟贴」和评论，不要限制网民言论，显示当局已预料到陈良宇下台的消息，定会获得舆论和民意支持。新浪网在消息公布后数小时内录得逾5万多个跟贴，其中99％都是赞誉之言，可见一斑。

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Oriental Daily, Hong Kong's biggest selling newspaper:

(In translation)

Sources said Messrs Hu and Wen treasured the views expressed online; they therefore had known perfectly well about Chen Liangyu's discipline violation and Shanghai people's indignation.

消息表示，由于重视网上民意，胡锦涛、温家宝等人对陈良宇违纪案及上海民怨沸腾的情况十分了解。