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| Pro-China groups blocked from using drums to drown out Xi Jinping protest | Pro-China groups blocked from using drums to drown out Xi Jinping protest |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Drummers from pro-China groups backing the visit to the UK by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, have been told that they cannot play in the royal park near Buckingham Palace, where he will arrive on Tuesday. | Drummers from pro-China groups backing the visit to the UK by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, have been told that they cannot play in the royal park near Buckingham Palace, where he will arrive on Tuesday. |
| The drummers are expected to be among those taking part in rival protests, gearing up to make their presence felt in London for the first official visit by a Chinese head of state in 10 years. | The drummers are expected to be among those taking part in rival protests, gearing up to make their presence felt in London for the first official visit by a Chinese head of state in 10 years. |
| It comes after it emerged hundreds of protesters from the ranks of Amnesty International, pro-Tibetan groups and other Chinese dissident groups will gather in St James’s Park before a late morning parade by Xi up the Mall to the palace, where he will attend a banquet later. | It comes after it emerged hundreds of protesters from the ranks of Amnesty International, pro-Tibetan groups and other Chinese dissident groups will gather in St James’s Park before a late morning parade by Xi up the Mall to the palace, where he will attend a banquet later. |
| While drums were used on the last occasion of a Chinese leader’s visit to the UK to drown out pro-democracy protesters and others, regulations governing the playing of instruments in royal parks mean that they will not be allowed to ramp up the decibels of their gathering in the park. | While drums were used on the last occasion of a Chinese leader’s visit to the UK to drown out pro-democracy protesters and others, regulations governing the playing of instruments in royal parks mean that they will not be allowed to ramp up the decibels of their gathering in the park. |
| Related: What to expect from President Xi Jinping’s visit to Britain | Related: What to expect from President Xi Jinping’s visit to Britain |
| The royal parks policy on protests inside their grounds stipulates that “no entertainment or other performances may take place”. | The royal parks policy on protests inside their grounds stipulates that “no entertainment or other performances may take place”. |
| A spokesperson said: “The royal parks has a long history of accommodating peaceful public protests. We usually only allow protests in Hyde Park but in exceptional circumstances we will consider applications for demonstrations elsewhere providing they adhere to the park regulations. | A spokesperson said: “The royal parks has a long history of accommodating peaceful public protests. We usually only allow protests in Hyde Park but in exceptional circumstances we will consider applications for demonstrations elsewhere providing they adhere to the park regulations. |
| “But we must not lose sight that these are public parks, primarily places for recreation, and we must ensure they are managed in a way that caters for all park users.” | “But we must not lose sight that these are public parks, primarily places for recreation, and we must ensure they are managed in a way that caters for all park users.” |
| In addition to the larger groups organised by Amnesty and other pro-democracy organisations, the anti-Xi protests are expected to be bolstered by demonstrations staged by smaller groups such as those representing members of China’s ethnic Uighur population from the restive Xinjiang region. | In addition to the larger groups organised by Amnesty and other pro-democracy organisations, the anti-Xi protests are expected to be bolstered by demonstrations staged by smaller groups such as those representing members of China’s ethnic Uighur population from the restive Xinjiang region. |
| Among those planning to join the protests is Shao Jiang, who was involved in the Chinese student movements during the 80s and who helped to draft a list of demands in 1989 during the Tiananmen Square protests. | Among those planning to join the protests is Shao Jiang, who was involved in the Chinese student movements during the 80s and who helped to draft a list of demands in 1989 during the Tiananmen Square protests. |
| He told the Guardian that the demonstrations in London were very important but suggested the British authorities had been guilty of “double standards” in the past when it came to the policing of such events. | He told the Guardian that the demonstrations in London were very important but suggested the British authorities had been guilty of “double standards” in the past when it came to the policing of such events. |
| “From my experience of policing in Britain, there has been a problem. For example, human rights protesters have been told that they cannot use megaphones, but they have allowed Chinese pro-government groups to use drums,” he said. | “From my experience of policing in Britain, there has been a problem. For example, human rights protesters have been told that they cannot use megaphones, but they have allowed Chinese pro-government groups to use drums,” he said. |
| “We also remember when the Olympic torch was making its way through the streets of the UK ahead of China hosting the games. Protesters were kettled by police, and yet supporters of China were allowed to walk freely.” | “We also remember when the Olympic torch was making its way through the streets of the UK ahead of China hosting the games. Protesters were kettled by police, and yet supporters of China were allowed to walk freely.” |
| Joshua Wong, an 18-year-old Hong Kong student leader and pro-democracy activist who is currently in London, said that the protests were important at a time when China was arresting more human rights activists. | |
| ”We hope to let Xi know that it is not possible to arrest people all over the world,” said Wong, who was one of the most prominent faces of Hong Kong’s so-called umbrella movement. | |
| ”However, the most important thing is the attitude of the British prime minister. He needs to raise the issue. Otherwise Xi will continue to focus on the core issue of investment.” | |
| Scotland Yard said in a statement late on Monday that it has been planning for the Chinese state visit for more than five months. | Scotland Yard said in a statement late on Monday that it has been planning for the Chinese state visit for more than five months. |
| It added: “We have been engaging with a variety of groups that have stated their intention to demonstrate during the visit of the Chinese president. | It added: “We have been engaging with a variety of groups that have stated their intention to demonstrate during the visit of the Chinese president. |
| “Where there are demonstrations, officers from the Police Liaison Team will be on the ground to engage with protestors. An appropriate policing plan will be in place throughout the duration of the visit.” | “Where there are demonstrations, officers from the Police Liaison Team will be on the ground to engage with protestors. An appropriate policing plan will be in place throughout the duration of the visit.” |
| It added that a planned demonstration and a counter demonstration are due to take place near the George VI memorial in St James’s Park, north of the Mall, between 11am and 1pm on Tuesday. | It added that a planned demonstration and a counter demonstration are due to take place near the George VI memorial in St James’s Park, north of the Mall, between 11am and 1pm on Tuesday. |
| Also expected to protest are representatives of Falun Gong, the spiritual sect banned by China in 1999 as a cult and severely repressed ever since. | Also expected to protest are representatives of Falun Gong, the spiritual sect banned by China in 1999 as a cult and severely repressed ever since. |
| The day before the Communist leader begins his four-day state visit, representatives from human rights groups gathered in the Palace of Westminster for a “stateless lunch” – held as an alternative to the state banquet the Queen is hosting for Xi at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening. | The day before the Communist leader begins his four-day state visit, representatives from human rights groups gathered in the Palace of Westminster for a “stateless lunch” – held as an alternative to the state banquet the Queen is hosting for Xi at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening. |
| The UK director of Human Rights Watch, David Mepham, called on David Cameron to press for reform amid accusations of a further decline in human rights in China. | The UK director of Human Rights Watch, David Mepham, called on David Cameron to press for reform amid accusations of a further decline in human rights in China. |
| “Since President Xi came to power three years ago, human rights conditions in the People’s Republic of China have deteriorated alarmingly,” he said. | “Since President Xi came to power three years ago, human rights conditions in the People’s Republic of China have deteriorated alarmingly,” he said. |
| “David Cameron should speak out strongly and publicly against these abuses, urge far-reaching reform, and press for the release of all those activists, lawyers and journalists so unjustly imprisoned. | “David Cameron should speak out strongly and publicly against these abuses, urge far-reaching reform, and press for the release of all those activists, lawyers and journalists so unjustly imprisoned. |
| “This is a moral duty, but also in our interests. China’s repression, pervasive corruption, its flawed judicial system and rampant impunity – these are a grave threat to China’s stability and economy. And that matters to all of us.” | “This is a moral duty, but also in our interests. China’s repression, pervasive corruption, its flawed judicial system and rampant impunity – these are a grave threat to China’s stability and economy. And that matters to all of us.” |
| The gathering was hosted by Labour MP Fabian Hamilton, who is chair of the all party parliamentary group for Tibet. One of the largest groupings of protesters are expected to gather around the Free Tibet campaign, which is demonstrating against China’s long occupation of the Himalayan territory and subsequent rights abuses there. | The gathering was hosted by Labour MP Fabian Hamilton, who is chair of the all party parliamentary group for Tibet. One of the largest groupings of protesters are expected to gather around the Free Tibet campaign, which is demonstrating against China’s long occupation of the Himalayan territory and subsequent rights abuses there. |
| More Tibetans would also protest outside the state banquet, according to Alistair Currie from the Free Tibet campaign. | More Tibetans would also protest outside the state banquet, according to Alistair Currie from the Free Tibet campaign. |
| He hailed a promise by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to raise the issue of human rights with Xi, saying: “It’s very welcome that it looks like someone is going to be raising human rights directly to Xi Jinping. The UK government says they raise issues in private, but we had a meeting with them earlier this week and they would not commit to anything that was going to happen.” | He hailed a promise by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to raise the issue of human rights with Xi, saying: “It’s very welcome that it looks like someone is going to be raising human rights directly to Xi Jinping. The UK government says they raise issues in private, but we had a meeting with them earlier this week and they would not commit to anything that was going to happen.” |