Cup of Cha
This is China

The Chinese government has announced that people attending the Olympic Games will have designated areas where they will be allowed to protest. No word yet on what topics people are allowed to protest in these areas that, no doubt, will have extremely close surveillance. Here’s the official story from the AP:

Beijing will set up specially designated zones for protesters during next month’s Olympics, a security official said Wednesday, in a sign China’s authoritarian government may allow some demonstrations during the games…

Liu Shaowu, director for security for the Beijing Olympic organizing committee, said Wednesday that areas in at least three public parks near outlying sporting venues have been set aside for use by demonstrators.

If I were a long-term expatriate here (oh wait, I am!) or a Chinese (in the extremely broad definition of the term), I wouldn’t get within a mile of those areas. Why? They will be taking down names and information of everyone involved. It is also safe to assume that they will not allow protests for the more sensitive topics, and it would be less than surprising if many of the “protesters” were patsies protesting much less sensitive issues in an effort to keep an eye on things. Or they might conveniently be protesting things like the French, Japanese or Jack Cafferty (Jack freaking Cafferty!).

I know, I’m the paranoid China basher, right? I mean, anyone who thinks that the government would be taking down the names and passport numbers of all protesters is just a lunatic, right? I mean it’s not like top security officials are saying exactly what I’m saying:

Liu also reiterated that Chinese regulations require that all protesters apply and receive permission in advance, though he sidestepped questions about whether that included the special zones. Ni, the Shanghai scholar, said that Chinese protesters may be allowed only in the rather far World Park, not in the other venues.

So to sum it up, you are supposed to protest on the outskirts of the city (where journalists will almost certainly not be allowed to go) after giving your name and contact information. The best part about this plan? It is strangely reminiscent of the 2004 Republican National Convention when the exact same thing happened. That’s right, the Bush Administration has managed to give authoritarian dictatorships a way to claim the moral high ground. Here’s a refresher from four years ago:

A protest group planning a large anti-President Bush rally the day before the Republican National Convention opens has told the New York City Police Department that it will not use the site designated for it by the city…

“Exiling a rally to a remote stretch of sun-baked highway makes a mockery of the right to assemble,” said United for Peace and Justice national coordinator Leslie Cagan.

I’m getting a migraine.

Tags: Bush, french, jack cafferty, japanese, protests
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