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Tiananmen anniversary: Chinese police patrol square to stop commemorations Tiananmen anniversary: Chinese police patrol square to stop commemorations
(about 1 hour later)
Scores of plainclothes and uniformed police patrolled Tiananmen Square on Wednesday, while censors scrubbed material from the internet, as authorities sought to prevent any commemoration of the bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests 25 years ago.Scores of plainclothes and uniformed police patrolled Tiananmen Square on Wednesday, while censors scrubbed material from the internet, as authorities sought to prevent any commemoration of the bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests 25 years ago.
Dozens of activists and other critics have already been placed under house arrest or detained by authorities in the runup to the anniversary of the 1989 massacre.Dozens of activists and other critics have already been placed under house arrest or detained by authorities in the runup to the anniversary of the 1989 massacre.
Relatives of some of the hundreds or even thousands of victims were allowed to mourn at their graves, but only under police escort, said Zhang Xianling of the Tiananmen Mothers group.Relatives of some of the hundreds or even thousands of victims were allowed to mourn at their graves, but only under police escort, said Zhang Xianling of the Tiananmen Mothers group.
"The wound is still very deep. And though we might now shed fewer tears than in the past, our conviction is even stronger," Zhang, whose teenage son Wang Nan was killed, told AP."The wound is still very deep. And though we might now shed fewer tears than in the past, our conviction is even stronger," Zhang, whose teenage son Wang Nan was killed, told AP.
"We must pursue justice for our loved ones.""We must pursue justice for our loved ones."
The group wants the government to name the dead, overturn the official verdict that the events were a "counterrevolutionary riot", and allow families to mourn peacefully in public.The group wants the government to name the dead, overturn the official verdict that the events were a "counterrevolutionary riot", and allow families to mourn peacefully in public.
But while the government would like to erase all memories of the crackdown, tens of thousands are expected to gather at a candlelit vigil to mourn the dead in Hong Kong – allowed to hold such assemblies, unlike people on the mainland, under the greater freedoms allowed to the region. Organisers have said they expect record attendance, with perhaps 150,000 gathering. But while the government would like to erase all memories of the crackdown, tens of thousands are expected to gather at a candlelit vigil to mourn the dead in Hong Kong – allowed to hold such assemblies, unlike people on the mainland, under the greater freedoms permitted in the region. Organisers have said they expect record attendance, with perhaps 150,000 or more gathering.
Another, smaller vigil is expected in Taiwan. The president, Ma Ying-jeou, described the crackdown as "an enormous historical wound" and said China must redress the wrongs. Another, smaller vigil is expected in Taiwan. President Ma Ying-jeou described the crackdown as "an enormous historical wound" and said China must redress the wrongs.
Security has been tightened significantly at the square in recent weeks, in part following terrorist attacks in China. On Wednesday tourists queued at scanners and had their bags searched before they were allowed in. Uniformed police patrolled on segways and with dogs, while plainclothes officers squatted and waited or strolled about the square. Security has been tightened significantly at the square in recent weeks, in part following terrorist attacks in China. On Wednesday tourists faced long queues at scanners and had their bags searched before they were allowed in, with most foreigners having their passports checked. Uniformed police patrolled on segways and with dogs, while plainclothes officers squatted and waited or strolled about the square.
Some foreign media were ordered to leave, and others were prevented from entering after police checked their passports. Some foreign media were ordered to leave and others were prevented from entering.
Maya Wang, of Human Rights Watch, said this year's crackdown before the anniversary had been notably harsher, with more people affected and more detained by police rather than placed under house arrest. A reporter for Hong Kong's South China Morning Post tweeted that the newspaper's account on the Chinese microblog service Weibo had been suspended. It has run extensive coverage of the anniversary.
Several users of LinkedIn – one of the few foreign social media services not blocked in China – complained that it had censored posts about the anniversary or related detentions. They had not logged into the company's Chinese language site, although they had set their location to Beijing. The posts appear to have been blocked to users in China rather than deleted.
The company's press office had not responded to queries from the Guardian at time of writing, but a spokesman told the Wall Street Journal that while it strongly supported freedom of expression: "It's clear to us that in order to create value for our members in China and around the world, we will need to implement the Chinese government's restrictions on content, when and to the extent required."
Maya Wang, of Human Rights Watch, said this year's crackdown before the anniversary had been notably harsher than usual, with more people affected and more detained by police rather than placed under house arrest.
She added: "The government fears any acknowledgement or discussion of the incident would undermine the legitimacy of their version of events.She added: "The government fears any acknowledgement or discussion of the incident would undermine the legitimacy of their version of events.
"Most people in China today don't want to talk about Tiananmen, believe in the official verdict or don't know about it – generally there's silence except for from a small minority of activists trying to keep the memory alive. In that sense the authorities have been quite successful."Most people in China today don't want to talk about Tiananmen, believe in the official verdict or don't know about it – generally there's silence except for from a small minority of activists trying to keep the memory alive. In that sense the authorities have been quite successful.
"But the same issues raised 25 years ago continue to dominate the grievances people raise today, such as lack of accountability and corruption.""But the same issues raised 25 years ago continue to dominate the grievances people raise today, such as lack of accountability and corruption."
An editorial in an English language edition of the state-run populist newspaper Global Times, which often covers more sensitive material than the Chinese version, said: "China has shielded relevant information in a bid to wield a positive influence on the smooth development of reform and opening up. The generation that experienced the incident has developed a deeper understanding of it through China's growth and such tragedies as the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the fall of communism in eastern Europe and the Arab spring."
The article, not carried in the Chinese edition, added: "The younger generation has avoided being misled by forces antagonistic to China's current political system. Chinese society has never forgotten the incident 25 years ago but not talking about it indicates the attitude of society."
Wu'er Kaixi, a prominent student leader now living in exile in Taiwan, said: "The Chinese government has tried their best to remove all elements of people remembering it. They have managed to keep it away from all the media and social media – but that's needed because people refuse to forget."
He said the Chinese government still needed to address public discontent over issues such as rampant corruption.
"In 1989 they made the worst possible choice. Today I am still hopeful – but not very optimistic – the regime will realise they have already run out of options," he said.
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, has expressed concern for those held in the runup to the anniversary, adding: "I urge the Chinese authorities to immediately release those detained for the exercise of their human right to freedom of expression.
"Rather than stifle attempts to commemorate the 1989 events, the authorities should encourage and facilitate dialogue and discussion as a means of overcoming the legacy of the past."
The White House urged China to account for those who had been killed, detained or gone missing in connection with the crackdown and said it honoured the memories of those who died.
"The United States will always speak out in support of the basic freedoms the protestors at Tiananmen Square sought, including the freedom of expression, the freedom of the press and the freedoms of association and assembly," the press secretary said.
In Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama offered prayers for those who died and urged China to embrace democracy.