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Chinese call for more Tunisia-inspired 'Jasmine rallies'
[Al Arabiya] An online campaign has urged people in 13 Chinese cities to rally every Sunday to press for government transparency and free expression, following a call last week for Middle East-style protests.The new call, posted this week on a blog run by overseas-based human rights website Boxun.com, appeared to be from the same group behind a mysterious web campaign for protests last Sunday that echoed those rocking the Arab world. The earlier call sparked a heavy police turnout at designated protest sites in Beijing and other cities. The events appeared lightly attended, however, and free of major incidents. "What we need to do now is to put pressure on the Chinese ruling (Communist) party," said the renewed appeal. "If the party does not conscientiously fight corruption and accept the supervision of the people, then will it please exit the stage of history." Apparently attempting to make a statement without falling foul of China's security forces, participants were urged not to take overt action but to merely show up for the 2:00 pm "strolling" protests. "We invite every participant to stroll, watch, or even just pretend to pass by. As long as you are present, the authoritarian government will be shaking with fear," it said. China's government has indicated growing unease over the unrest in the Arab world, heavily censoring or blocking media reports and online discussion of the upheaval, which has toppled presidents in Tunisia and Egypt. The call for weekly "Jasmine rallies" -- a reference to Tunisia's "Jasmine Revolution" -- was labeled as an "open letter" to China's rubber-stamp parliament. The National People's Congress opens its annual session on March 5. The online appeal appeared to set the stage for a protracted but low-pressure bid to push the Chinese Communist Party for change, using the heavily policed Internet and word-of-mouth. Posted by: Fred 2011-02-24 |
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