Beijing Clamps Down on Petitioners Ahead of Oct. 1 Celebrations

A group of armed police patrols a railway station in Zhejiang Province. This is just a fraction of the strict security arrangements that have been set up around China. Authorities here want nothing to disturb the October 1st events that will celebrate 60 years of communist rule.

Over the weekend, city streets around Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue were shut down. Tanks and rocket launchers replaced cars on the roads for a rehearsal parade for October 1st. Residents here are being asked to re-register for identity cards, as authorities try to maintain control over individuals entering the region.

Victor Gao, Director of China National Association of International Studies, told Globe & Mail that while pedestrians and drivers may experience unhappiness with the inconveniences, these feelings will be overwhelmed by the great zeal of the happy occasion.

It appears, however, that not everyone shares this great zeal. Scores of petitioners in Beijing are being sent back to their hometowns. There, they may face illegal detention or even so-called “re-education.”

[Hongren Liu, Jiangsu Petitioner]:
“We were petitioning at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. They treated us very badly. There isn’t much hope for petitioning during the 60th anniversary celebration. There are plain-clothed police everywhere. The ones from your prefecture will take you away and beat you up, and send you to re-education classes. Yesterday there were 2,000 petitioners at the Bureau of Letters and Visits, and they were all sent away.”

According to Chinese State media, a “security moat” has been established with seven municipalities, provinces, and regions around Beijing. Under the arrangement, local authorities will have security checkpoints on all roads leading into the city.

Human rights activist Wang Ruchun warns that harsh control of petitioners for so-called “stability” may actually achieve the opposite effect.

[Wang Ruchun, Human Rights Activist]:
“Now the country’s entire public security machine is carrying out strict monitoring and control of petitioners for the sake of stability. But in reality, if you stop the public from petitioning, things will become more unstable.”

Chinese State media reports that Beijing has increased the presence of patrol vehicles and enlisted over a million security volunteers to prepare for October 1st.

(NTDTV)