BEIJING—Petitioners continued visiting the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, where the Six-Party Talks are being held. On December 19 and 20, under close surveillance of 30 police vehicles and over 100 police officers, more than 100 petitioners were arrested each of those days and taken away from the main entrance of Diaoyutai.
On December 19, police vehicles parked on the left side of Diaoyutai’s main entrance, marking off the area with yellow tape. A number of armed police officers posted as guards at the door. Whenever a large number of petitioners assembled, dozens of police officers in uniform and in plain clothes would quickly rush over to intercept them. Press-photographers wearing clothes marked with “CCTV” were waiting on the right side of the main entrance. They witnessed the many petitioners getting arrested.
A police officer at the scene tried to persuade the petitioners: “A foreign affairs activity is being held here, they are trying to resolve the nuclear weapon issue with North Korea. The ‘Two Meetings’ [1] are not being held here, no national leaders are here. You should not come here otherwise our country will lose face.”
A male petitioner in his 30’s or 40’s rebutted with sarcasm, “You have made a mess out of our domestic affairs, how can you shamelessly make arrangements for foreign affairs? Better take care of your own matters first.”
Police: “Who are you referring to?”
Petitioner: “I’m talking about our national leaders.”
Police: “You, step forward if you dare to say another word.”
When this male petitioner stepped out of the group, he was immediately seized and taken away and put in a police vehicle that was driven out quickly.
On the December 19, over 20 petitioners who had gone to the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, were arrested and taken to Majialou petitioners detention Center. One petitioner, who had been making appeals for a long time, indicated that 200 to 300 petitioners were detained at Majialou the day before, including those being arrested at the Fuyou street and at the Party School. Since people taken to Majialou were constantly taken away and sent back to their hometowns, it is hard to count the exact number.
On the December 20, an observer indicated that the number of arrests was similar to the number on December 19. Over 100 people were taken away again on that day.
Notes:
[1] Two meetings refer to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
