Online lynch mobs find second post-quake target; Liaoning girl detained by the police

That was enough to send netizens into a frenzy and they soon went checking all her personal details and putting them up online. Subsequently, messages purporting to be from her family members were also posted online:

Message 1: Zhang Ya is my daughter, and as parents, we have failed in educating her. She’s still ignorant to the ways of the world. During this time of great suffering for the entire nation, she’s done something that the Chinese people can not forgive and can not accept. I know that everyone can’t forgive her, and the law won’t forgive her, but I hope all of you can understand the concern we have, as parents, for our child. I can only say to the people of Sichuan, the people of China: I’m sorry! Zhang Ya’s almost in emotional collapse… please, please don’t push her any more. We will give everyone an explanation, give the people of Sichuan an explanation. I know after this news came out her mother has been very worried… she almost can’t walk straight. I hope everyone can forgive her, okay? Her mother and I work in other parts of the country, but we will return to Liaoning immediately… please, please don’t harm her. Speaking as a father, this is my heart-felt apology and hope. As far as this unfilial daughter, we will work harder to supervise her, monitor her in the future. Her mother and I have decided that we will donate all of our savings to the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. I hope that we can all work hard to make it past this difficult period. I’m kneeling in front of the Sichuan people!!!”

Message 2: I hope everyone can see this in a logical way. Zhang Ya’s behavior is just representative of all those ignorant children. Things like Audition (a game), Non-Mainstream (非主流, a culture/entertainment site)… the modern web has harmed and injured so many youths. Regardless of whether everyone can forgive her, as her parents we will absolutely tightly control and teach her going forward. I hope everyone can consider this incident from a logical perspective. I’m not expecting that everyone can forgive her, but at this moment of national trouble, I hope everyone can reach out with your helping hand and forgive this ignorant little girl. Zhang Ya only said these ignorant things because we didn’t teach and manager her properly. All of the responsibility for this lies on our shoulders as her parents. Please, everyone stop looking for her, we’re beginning!

Message 3: Hello to all netizens, I am Zhang Ya’s brother. I’m currently in Shenzhen, and just received my sister’s call this afternoon. After watching this video, to tell you the truth, I’m also disgusted… but she really didn’t mean it in a malicious way, it was just an impulsive moment of frustration that led her to say what she said: the world’s most disgusting, poisonous words. Now she’s really regretful, and really scared, she had no idea things would get this blown up. At the time, she just felt that the 3-day moratorium on all entertainment activities was too forced, and at a moment’s impulse recorded that video. But she knows she was wrong, now… I hope everybody can lessen the anger in their heart. Everyone can make mistakes, and she will give an explanation to the Chinese people, she will apologize to everyone… I’m preparing to go home right now, and I will take her to Sichuan so she can see for herself. [Translation by Speak4China]

Xinhua has now reported that the 21 year old Liaoning girl has been detained by police for investigation. Apart from the fact that the girl was orphaned at an early age, little else is know. Meanwhile, a discussion has ensued over whether the girl could be charged under Sections 42 and 47 of the Law on Public Security Administration Punishments (中华人民共和国治安管理处罚法), which relate to defamation and for endangering public stability.