Beijing Clamps Down on Petitioners Ahead of Oct. 1 Celebrati
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 Beijings Changan 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 isnt 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 2000 petitioners at the Bureau of Letters and Visits <b>...</b>