Mao Zedong’s former propaganda aide regrets death of two intellectuals during Cultural Revolution
Memoir of Qi Benyu, who died last week, reveals that he felt responsible for their suicides
Mao Zedong’s former right-hand man for propaganda, Qi Benyu, “regretted” the death of two intellectuals he attacked during the Cultural Revolution, according to his memoir published on Thursday.
Qi, who died at 85 in Shanghai last week, was the last surviving member of the ultra-left Cultural Revolution Group, which superseded the Communist Party’s Politburo and Secretariat to emerge as the country’s top power organ at the height of the turmoil between 1966 and 1976.
His death comes amid debate on Mao’s rule and the Cultural Revolution, which marks its 50th anniversary on May 16.
Qi was among the few writers Mao trusted with key documents and commentaries essential to the start of the Cultural Revolution. Intellectuals targeted in his articles faced persecution, often with deadly consequences. Qi wrote that he regretted the suicides of historian Jian Bozan and his wife, and journalist Deng Tuo.
Jian and his wife] did not commit suicide because of our article, but our article did exert pressure on them. I’ve always regretted it