Series of arrests to erase the memory of Tiananmen. "Mothers" group criticizes Xi Jinping
Beijing (AsiaNews) - Beijing has launched its crackdown against activists, in view of the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre. Over the past few days authorities have carried out raids across the country, to control the activities of dissidents and prevent any demonstration in memory of the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of victims killed by the Chinese army June 4, 1989. Yesterday, the rights organization Chinese Human Rights Defender, released a report denouncing the abuses of law enforcement to the detriment of democracy movements and dissidents. On the eve of the anniversary, the "Tiananmen Mothers", the association of relatives of those killed in the massacre, has published an open letter criticizing the policy of the President Xi Jinping, accusing him of betraying the hopes of the population on political reform and wanting to trap society by returning to Maoist methods.
In Guandong, Ye Du deputy secretary general of the Independent Chinese Pen, and Yu Gang, Shenzhen activist, are confined to their homes. To block communications with the outside world, the police have cut off their internet connection and placed their phones under control. In Guangzhou, May 29, the authorities placed a travel ban on Tang Jingling, a lawyer involved in the defense of human rights. Since May 26, the agents have held dissident Liang Songik in solitary confinement. Activists Xu Xiangrong, Li Weiguo and Li Wensheng who had asked permission to hold a demonstration on June 4 were arrested. Qiu Hua and Yang Tingjian have also been jailed for having tried to organize a virtual event in memory of the victims, spreading messages of freedom and democracy through mobile phones.
In Hunan province, police have
been holding Luo Qian prisoner in a hotel room since 23 May. Luo was one of the participants in the student
demonstrations of 1989. In recent months, he had planned several events for
June 4 in the whole province. In
the city of Huaihua, on May 27 police took the activists Zhang Shanguang and Li
Jianjun from their homes. There
is still no news about their condition and the place of detention.
For
CHRD, the police are doing everything possible to prevent the spread of
demonstrations. The
tension is such that in some cities even private dinners among friends are
prohibited. On
May 26, authorities in Jinan (Shandong), convoked more than a dozen people who
had gathered to celebrate the birthday of activist Li Hongwei. They
were taken to jail on charges of "illegal gathering" and released
after a few hours. Police
suspicions' were aroused by the profile of four guests, who on 12 May had
participated in a demonstration in remembrance of the Tiananmen massacre.
In recent days, the
"Tiananmen Mothers", an association that brings together over 100
personalities, all relatives or parents of young people killed on June 4 1989, published
an open letter in which they accuse the new president Xi Jinping of failing to treasure
the legacy of his father, the reformist Xi Zhongxun, and instead of following
the policy of his predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.
Since
he took power Xi has launched several campaigns against the corruption of Party
members, but also intensified the control over information, censorship of the
Internet and newspapers, stifling any manifestation of opposition. The
"Mothers" stigmatize this policy as "gigantic steps backwards,
towards Maoist orthodoxy."
"This
- the letter continues - has produced disappointment and despair in all those
individuals who cultivated the hope that he [Xi] would have made political
reforms."
The
Communist Party has always defended the massacre and the violent repression of
the 1989 students and workers demonstration, justifying it as a necessary means
to ensure the economic development that followed.
The
spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei, said that the economic success of
the past 20 years "shows that the path we have chosen serves the interests
of the Chinese people."
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05/06/2017 09:20
04/06/2008
