WORLD : China Bans Tian An Men Rallies
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BEIJING — China today banned unauthorized rallies in Tian An Men Square and attacked former party leader Zhao Ziyang in another sign that Beijing’s hard-line leaders fear the uprising that ousted their Romanian ally may hit them next.
“This seems to be part of a pattern,” a Western diplomat said. “It is another sign that the leaders are worried about the loss of control.”
The New China News Agency said Beijing’s municipal leaders passed a decree forbidding “gatherings, rallies or demonstrations” in Tian An Men Square without prior permission. The huge square has been guarded around the clock by martial-law forces since the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators there this spring.
China also revived a long-dormant war of words against former Communist Party chief Zhao, accusing him of failures in political work and neglecting ideological struggle.
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