16 People Missing Amidst China’s Crackdown on Anoymous Letter Urging President Xi Jinping’s Resignation

By Staff Writer | Mar 28, 2016 07:31 AM EDT

At least 16 people have been reported missing after Wujie News published an anonymous letter urging President Xi Jinping's resignation. 

People who have been missing were all said to be connected to the state-backed website Wujie News.  Sources of BBC News revealed that columnist Jia Jia was one of the captives and was released recently.  The insider added that there were about 16 people who had been taken away.  The source said that a senior manager and a senior editor, and another 10 people who work for a related technology company were also held.  A popular Chinese dissident now staying in the U.S. claimed that three of his family members were taken away in connection with Xi Jinping's resignation letter.

"Dear Comrade Xi Jinping, we are loyal Communist Party members,"  the Jinping's resignation letter reads. "We write this letter asking you to resign from all party and state leadership positions."

Quartz revealed that it was uncertain whether the publication Wujie News intentionally published the letter urging Xi Jinping's resignation or the site was hacked.  The alleged Xi Jinping's resignation letter was focused on the president's gathering of power on his own hands. In Xi Jinping's latest visit to state-run TV and newspaper offices, he told the newsmen that their prime goal is to follow the Communist Party.  After Xi Jinping's resignation letter appeared online,  the letter was immediately deleted. The website was also inaccessible for some time.

The alleged Xi Jinping's resignation letter was reportedly signed as Loyal Communist Party members, SCMP reported.  "In the political sphere, your abandonment of important Party tradition, including most significantly the abandonment of the democratic system of the collective leadership of the Standing Committee, instead having all leaders at all levels support your position at the "core," has resulted in an excessive concentration of power," the letter continues.

Until now, the author of Xi Jinping's resignation letter remains unknown.  The letter was the latest attack on the government of Xi Jinping as they expressed their disappointment in his ruling.  The disappearance of the 16 people allegedly meant that the president has low intolerance for the opposition.

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