Wednesday, August 19, 2009

DTN News: Beijing Police Anti-Terror Patrols For Anniversary

DTN News: Beijing Police Anti-Terror Patrols For Anniversary
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - August 19, 2009: Beijing police will step up their anti-terror efforts ahead of the 60th anniversary on October 1 of the founding of communist China, with more street patrols and checkpoints, state media said Wednesday. The massive police mobilisation will likely surpass the security clampdown seen for last year's Olympic Games in the capital, the China Daily reported. The report said the new security measures were also prompted by last month's unrest in China's far western Xinjiang region, which the government said was orchestrated by Muslim Uighur separatists and left nearly 200 people dead. "Security is currently our top priority," the paper quoted Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu as saying earlier this week. We must "guard against and relentlessly crack down on sabotage activities carried out by hostile forces from both home and abroad... attempts of violence and terrorism must be foiled before they are turned into real action." Terrorism expert Li Wei told the paper: "The authorities have put terrorist attempts and violence from enemy forces, including extremists, separatists and terrorists, as the biggest threats against National Day activities." Police will target residents from ethnic groups and expatriates who have only resided in the capital for a short time, the China Daily said. Security forces have been engaged in a two-month-long anti-terrorism campaign aimed at maintaining social stability ahead of the sensitive anniversary, it added. The official Xinhua news agency reported last week that police had confiscated 19,000 guns and 500 tonnes of explosives in a pre-October 1 crackdown on illegal firearms. More than 5,200 suspects have been arrested. On October 1, 1949, communist revolutionary leader Mao Zedong declared the establishment of the People's Republic of China from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, following a victory over Nationalist forces who fled to Taiwan.

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