Thursday, January 25, 2001
CHINA: Chinese New Year celebrations in Beijing were marred yesterday by further attempts by Falun Gong members to protest on Tiananmen Square a day after five members set themselves on fire in a mass suicide attempt. [Editor's note: the suicide has nothing to do with Falun Gong. See
At least three members of the banned spiritual movement were reported to have penetrated a huge security cordon to gain access to the square.
One female member shouted "Falun Dafa is good" before paramilitary police frog marched her away.
Security was extremely tight at Tiananmen Square as millions celebrated the start of the Year of the Snake.
The Irish Times counted as many as 20 buses, many filled with soldiers, parked in a cordoned-off area. The atmosphere was tense as visitors were checked before entering the popular tourist area and plain-clothes police were in evidence.
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China's human rights record is under the spotlight as the International Olympic Committee prepares to inspect the city in February before a final vote on a host city for the 2008 Games is made in July.
There were fears of a repeat of last year's ugly New Year scenes when police punched and kicked elderly Falun Gong demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.
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