World IN BRIEF : CHINA : Remembrance of ’66 Revolution Banned

China blocked any commemoration of the Cultural Revolution on its 30th anniversary for fear that official reminiscing on the calamity that racked the lives of millions could spark popular discontent. On May 16, 1966, the Communist Party’s ruling Politburo approved an edict drafted by Chairman Mao Tse-tung that was to mark the start of Mao’s ultra-leftist 1966-76 Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, which left tens of thousands of people dead. Beijing now calls the period a “10-year catastrophe,” and scholars believe that the government not only is afraid official reminiscing could spark discontent but is reluctant to take responsibility for the disaster.