The Beijing News: Did this emotion affect your work?
Li: When I was busy, I couldn't remember any of those horrible things. But when I was alone, I often remembered them and felt deeply saddened.
The Beijing News: Did you confide in your friends or family members?
Li: I had no time to say anything to my friends. We only talked about things like donations and emergency aid.
But my wife gave me great comfort. She is a teacher in Deyang City. She suddenly arrived in Shifang on May 13 and called me – telling me that she wanted to be a volunteer for disaster relief. Over the following days, she was busy helping people in transit and receiving disaster relief materials. After some temporary schools opened, she went there to do psychological counseling and teach.
The Beijing News: What about other family members?
Li: My son is studying in a university in northeast China. He sent me a text message after the earthquake that moved me a lot. He wrote: "You should pay attention to your own safety. Under the precondition that your own safety is secured, then you should organize the evacuation for victims in an orderly fashion. Stay calm."
He has grown up. He has begun to worry about his family members and has an awareness of the overall situation. You see, he thought about me first: was that selfish?
The Beijing News: Your son loves you deeply.
Li: I was really moved. But I had no time to reply to him at that moment. I only had time to call him back three days later.
The Beijing News: During the emergency aid, did you save any victims with your own hands?
Li: Sometimes I wanted to, but, as a commander, I had so much to coordinate, I mainly directed others how to rescue victims.
The Beijing News: When you look back, do you have any regrets concerning this emergency aid battle?
Li: Many people would have survived if the transportation and telecommunications had functioned normally after the earthquake.
Thus I want to emphasize that the design and reconstruction of Shifang City should enhance the capacity to resist any future earthquakes.
Additionally, our government still lacks experience handling public emergency accidents. More attention should be directed toward strengthening this.
(China.org.cn translated by Yan Pei & Li Xiaohua, June 11, 2008)