China Warns Possible Olympic Protesters

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | The New York Times
November 01, 2007

China will not tolerate unauthorized parades, demonstrations or other gatherings during next year's Olympic Games, a police spokesman said Thursday in a warning to groups hoping to use the Games' visibility to publicize their causes.

''Any group or individual who stages a gathering, parade, or demonstration during the Beijing Olympic Games period must respect Chinese law,'' Public Security Ministry press officer Wu Heping said. ''As to those legal activities, police will protect them according to the law. As for those activities that are illegal, we police will handle them according to the law.''

Chinese law technically permits protests and other similar actions, but they require applications that are almost never approved. Those who dare even make such requests can be subject to surveillance, harassment or arrest, especially if the cause involved is seen to challenge Communist Party authority.

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