The authorities announce exceptional measures and tighter military controls in regions inhabited by ethnic minorities. They are also imposing closer surveillance on migrants or anyone who might cause “disorder”. All this is being done ostensibly to prevent attacks, but many view it as a way to silence dissenters.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Beijing police is mobilising 800,000 residents for a two-month crime-watch campaign in a bid to boost public security ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on 1 October 2009. Experts fear however it will be used to crack down on migrants and ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs. In fact, imposing tight controls on the city through the use of informants is designed to avoid possible protests during the grandiose celebrations that are being planned.

Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu on Monday said that officers at all levels should pay attention to all hostile forces to guarantee maximum security.

The authorities want to prevent disorder of any kind. Anyone in the capital buying flammable material will have to give personal information for record-keeping. All petrol stations are banned from selling petrol in bulk to consumers who use plastic containers.

For state media like the China Daily actions by “extremists, separatists and terrorists” like the Uyghurs “must be foiled before they are turned into real action,” Meng said.

The Xinhua state news agency reported facts worthy of a civil war. For instance, police last week confiscated 19,000 guns and 500 tonnes of explosives in a crackdown on illegal firearms. More than 5,200 suspects were arrested.

Defence Minister Liang Guanglie called on the army to clearly understand the tough challenges of the "three forces" that threaten China. He openly advocated a military regime for the region of Xinjiang as well as areas like Qinghai, Gansu and Shaanxi, which have large Tibetan populations and Ningxia with its Hui population.

In Beijing the campaign will focus on settlements of migrant workers and recently arrived members of ethnic minorities.

Residents in sensitive spots are being encouraged to keep an eye in areas where police presence is weakest like old residential areas, neighbourhoods with a lot of migrant workers, border areas between urban and rural areas, public service areas and places known to be centres of crime

The same security measures were used during last year's Olympic Games with good results. They involved tens of thousands of residents who helped organisers and public security forces.

As part of the campaign leading up to 1 October, police officers have also organised more than 32,000 mass meetings in street committee offices, transient population associations, rental-housing owners' clubs, shop-owner unions and entertainment spots to keep an eye out for any hints of violence or crime.

• china
• 1
• october
• anniversary
• 60
• celebration
• people’s
• republic
• founding
• campaign
• tight
• control