TOKYO – An all-girl pop group portrayed by some as the Chinese version of Japan’s AKB48 is now in the political spotlight — for singing the praises of the disastrous 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution during a recent concert.
The 56 Flowers concert was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 2. As things stand now, the incident remains shrouded in mystery. Will anyone face the music over the affair?
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time: Monday is the 50th anniversary of the start of the Cultural Revolution.
Exactly half a century ago, Mao Zedong, who brought communism to China, launched the socio-political movement as part of his struggle for power.
On May 16, 1966, the Chinese Communist Party released an official document that became known as the “May 16 Notification.” In accordance with the document, the Central Cultural Revolution Group was set up.
The group included Jiang Qing and other radical supporters of Mao. Jiang, Mao’s last wife, became one of the “Gang of Four” leaders of the Cultural Revolution. Eventually, she was arrested and punished.
The Cultural Revolution claimed numerous victims. The Chinese Communist Party has since rejected the 10-year catastrophe and pursued a policy of “reform and opening-up.”
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