YeuYeu's killer formally detained and charged - and the bastard has a daughter of his own!

Story from The Shanghaiist:

First driver who ran over Yueyue formally detained by Foshan police

Foshan's Nanhai District Procuratorate has formally approved the arrest of Hu Jun, the first of two drivers who ran over two-year-old toddler, Yueyue, in the double hit-and-run that has gripped the nation and the world this week. The formality paves the way for the next step in the legal process of a case that will be highly watched by all quarters of Chinese society.

24-year-old truck driver Hu Jun, from Feicheng near Tai'an in Shandong province, was seen on CCTV footage knocking down the toddler, and then running over her a second time with a rear wheel as he made his escape. Seven minutes, 18 bystanders, and a subsequent hit by another vehicle later, help for Yueyue finally arrived in the form of 58-year-old scrap peddlerChen Xianmei, and later, Yueyue's mother.

A journalist from Taishan Evening News made her way to Jiangzhuang Village in Wangguadian Town off Feicheng to speak to the family of Hu Jun. Hu's mother, Zhang Yuchun, had been crying rivers of tears. She said that the family first found out about the accident on the afternoon of October 16, two days after it happened.

"That day, Hu Jun called up his father, saying he had seen a video of someone running over a child. He later realised that he was that person in the van, but he didn't know at the time that there was a child on the floor," said Zhang.

[I'm calling b.s. on that last statement based on a quote from Hu Jun on the day of the incident in which he stated "When I realized I had knocked her down, I thought I'd go down and see how she was, but since she was already bleeding I decided to step on the gas and get out of there, since there was no one around me."]

Hu was shocked out of his wits, and was making the call to inform the family in case anything happened, added Zhang. Her husband, Hu Xuwei advised him to turn himself in to the police before flying to Guangdong that very evening. "Upon his arrival in Guangzhou, he was unable to get in touch with our son. I myself, don't know how to get online, and as I was unable to get posted on the latest developments, I could only sit and fret," she said.

The second of three children, and the only son, Hu Jun has been married for two years. In February this year, he moved with his wife and their then 50-day-old daughter to Foshan, against the wishes of his mother, to seek a better life. The couple ran a little store to make their living, and on the day of the accident, Hu was out running errands for the business.

"All the neighbours say my son is a good man, an honest man. Since he was young, he has never told a lie, or gotten into a fight with anybody."

"We hope that Yueyue's parents can forgive my son. Our entire family is so sorry for all the hurt that he has caused them. Now our only wish is that the police can be more lenient to our son," said Zhang as she wiped away her tears.

Email to The Globe and Mail re: 'YeuYeu's Death is China's shame, but we have our own'.

In his article, journalist Gary Mason is for some reason attempting to equivocate. He's either trying to avoid the ugly, ugly truth of the matter or he's got an agenda. Or maybe he owns' shares in an import / export company. Either way, he needs correcting.

Dear Mr. Mason,

You have made two inaccurate assumptions in your article today. This is understandable since facing squarely up to what the death of YeuYeu truly implies is extremely difficult and takes a great deal of courage.

However, I feel obligated to point out the following.

The much touted "bystander effect" is only useful in explaining the inaction of groups of people simultaneously witnessing a traumatic event. 

The adults who failed YeuYeu were not in a group, they were walking by as individuals. 

18 individual adults were each faced with a private choice of whether or not to render aid and comfort to a gravely injured child, and they all chose to do nothing.

No help. No comfort. Not even a cell phone call to emergency services.

If they were squeamish or worried about lawsuits there were ways to assist without touching the child: ask around, block the street to avoid the second hit and run, or, again, just call EMS.

But they did nothing. A quote from one of the passers-by gives us an insight. The man, after being questioned by reporters said: "It's not my child. Why should I bother to help?"

Your second assumption, that somehow an injured child can be directly compared to an injured adult, is also off the mark.

You repeatedly use phrases like "someone" and "another person".

A child is very much more than just "another person" and our treatment of them as a society is a litmus test of our moral well-being.

A litmus test, I should point out, that China has failed. Miserably.

Ghandi said that a nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members. Never was this truth more evident than in the horrifying cruelty and indifference that resulted in YeuYeu's death.

The government of China, after 30 years of Communism mixed with a prosperity fueled in large part by trade with Canada and the U.S., has succeeded in creating a depraved, morally bankrupt society incapable of valuing human life.

The horrifying lack of empathy evident in the death of YeuYeu is an indictment upon Chinese society first of all, but not only upon them.

Through our trade agreements with that country we are, in effect, giving them our tacit approval for their actions and further fueling the fire of an economic growth which has far, far outstripped their morals.

It is our duty as Canadian citizens to stop immediately all trade with China until they have made real steps toward getting their society back on a course in keeping with accepted standards of moral and ethical behavior among modern, industrialized nations.

Email to Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade for Canada

Dear Minister Fast,

I hope this email finds you well. Thank you for taking a few moments to read this message from a concerned citizen.

First let me say that I am encouraged by reading your statement of October 18th regarding the trade relations between Canada and the U.S. You are quite correct in pointing out the benefits of lowering trade barriers between our two great nations. Yet there remain opportunities to do more.

Minister Fast, I am anxious to know your response to the case of Wang Yeu - the Chinese toddler fatally injured in a double hit-and-run on October 15th in the city of Foshan, China. 

After she was run down no fewer than 18 people (clearly seen on the security camera footage since uploaded to YouTube) walked, rode, and drove by (and in one case, over) Wang Yeu as she lay in plain view on the side of the busy street. 18 people, Minister, and not one of them lifted a finger to help. Not even bothering to call for an ambulance or perhaps block traffic until help could arrive.

Wang Yeu's death has caused an international outcry. If you are not familiar with this story I strongly urge you to search YouTube or Google for "Chinese Toddler Hit and Run" to verify what I am telling you. 

I must, in good conscience, caution you against watching the unedited video as it will no doubt be extremely disturbing to you as a father of four girls - as it was to myself, a father of three.

Consensus in the international press now seems to be centering upon the notion that 30 years of prosperity and fast growth have caused Chinese society to come unhinged from it's moral and ethical underpinnings. 

In addition, bizarre legal rulings have allowed accident victims to sue their Good Samaritan rescuers by accusing the Good Samaritan of actually causing the accident - as has occurred in several recent, highly publicized cases.

My question to you, Minister, is: how much responsibility does our nation of Canada bear, through it's trade relations with China, for the corruption and moral degradation that has now culminated in this unspeakable tragedy? Through our trade relations with China are we merely giving more drugs to the addict?

My second question: on what ethical grounds can we continue to do business with a Government that has created and encouraged the conditions necessary for such evil to occur?

I should add that the event itself is not unique - only the fact that it was captured on video. No sooner had Wang Yeu passed away last Friday then another story appeared in the Chinese press almost identical in nature.

Add to this the ongoing abuses of human rights, jailing of dissidents, persecution of religious groups, and brutal suppression of demonstrators and you must agree that China has become a serious burden to it's trading partners.

Minister, I implore you, please issue a response to this tragedy in keeping with the morals, ethics, and traditions that have made Canadian society one of the best and safest in the world. 

We treasure our children. How can we remain trade partners with a society as heartless and cruel as that which the Government of China has created?

The people of Canada need to know that you are aware of this issue and that it matters to you. 

They further need to know who they are doing business with whenever they buy something that has 'Made In China' on the label.

Minister Fast, I thank you for your time and look forward to your reply.

Best Regards,

In Memoriam

Her name is Wang Yeu. She was 2 years old when she died on October 21, 2011 - one week after being struck down in a double hit-and-run in Foshan City, China.

Wang Yeu was a typical 2 year old - curious, fearless, and asserting her independence when, on October 14th, she slipped out of her parents house unnoticed after her older brother had gone out to play. What follows is my description of security camera footage subsequently uploaded to YouTube. While I would not recommend that you watch this video yourself, you may wish to if you feel the need to verify that these events took place as described.

The camera captures Wang Yeu as she wanders about on the market street adjacent to her family home. She seems a little overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the market as she looks about herself, trying to take it all in. 

In the background, perhaps fifty yards away, a delivery van appears. 

The van pauses at the entrance to the street and then lunges forward, directly toward the toddler as she looks back over her shoulder at something, oblivious to any danger. With the van only a few feet away, Wang Yeu suddenly takes notice - but it's too late. Outlined against the black grill, her little arms raised in an attempt to protect herself, Wang Yeu is struck down, disappearing under the van as the right front wheel rolls over her.

The van comes to a sudden halt. A tragic accident has occurred - yet hope remains. Wong Yeu lies on the road, arms still raised in self-defense for a few seconds before collapsing to her sides as she passes out. Her body lies half concealed underneath the van in the space between the front wheel and the back wheel. 

And then, a few seconds later, the van begins to move again.

For a moment I could not comprehend what I was witnessing. And then my blood ran cold as the truth began to sink in. The van is not stopping! I thought, "Oh God! Please! No!"

The rear wheel of the van makes a few timid attempts to climb over Wong Yeu's broken body before finally gaining enough traction, crushing her a second time as it rolls over her, flipping her onto her left side. The wheel leaves a bloody tire track on the pavement.

Wong Yeu lies on her side in the street - broken, bleeding, and unconscious. Here is a quote from the driver of the van - a man named Hu Jun. 

"When I realized I had knocked her down I thought I would stop to check on her and see how she was. Then, when I saw she was already bleeding, I decided to step on the gas and get out of there - since there was no one around me." 

And later, after being asked if he realized that the child might die:

"If she dies, I pay only 20,000 yuan (about $3000). But if she lives, I could pay hundreds of thousands of Yuan in medical bills."

A few moments after Jun's despicable act of brutality, a pedestrian appears. He glances down at the injured child at his feet....and keeps on walking.

A second pedestrian appears, glances at the dying two year old lying on the street, and continues on his way.

This scene is repeated no fewer than 18 times (18 times!) over the next 10 minutes. At some point during this hellish ordeal, Wong Yeu regains consciousness and can be seen moving her arms and head. According to one of the pedestrians that passed her by, she was also crying. 

A two year old child lying in the street bleeding, crying, and moving her arms and head. Yet she was ignored by 18 different people as they walked by.

Another quote, this time from one of the passers-by:

"She was not my child. Why should I bother to help?"

At this point you may wish to pause and ask yourself, "Should I be giving money to a country such as this?"

A second delivery van appears at the entrance to the street, pauses, and continues forward.

I am frozen solid in my chair.

Wang Yeu suddenly raises both arms above her head as the second van runs over her legs. A heartbreaking gesture of self defense from a child unable to comprehend what is happening to her or why, but just wanting it to stop. 

Wang Yeu remains conscious, occasionally moving her arms and head, her cries growing weaker.

An old woman appears. She is carrying a sack over her shoulder. She see's Wong Yeu, puts down the sack, glances around hesitantly, and then goes to the child. Wong Yeu turns her head and looks at the old woman. The woman tries to help Wong Yeu sit up - a well-meaning but futile gesture. Wong Yeu, weakened by loss of blood and half paralyzed, falls forward, almost lifeless, onto the street. The woman drags her off to the side of the road and begins asking for help for the child. She is told to mind her own business.

Moments later, Wong Yeu's mother appears, panicked. She runs to her daughter, picks her up, and runs off camera, searching for an ambulance. 

The video feed ends.

I cannot move. I cannot speak. I cannot think. I have swallowed lethal poison and I am dead. 

The tears came two days later, after I had finally come to terms with the unspeakable cruelty and indifference I had witnessed. Tears of impotent rage. Tears of a sadness so deep it felt like it would consume me. Tears of regret. Tears of guilt and shame for every thing I ever bought with 'Made In China' on the label. 

I cried for her again, 7 days later on October 21st. That was the day she died.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may Perpetual Light shine upon her.

May her soul and souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of Almighty God, rest in peace.

Amen.

Goodbye, little one.