Shouting their exhaustion over sanitary restrictions, between 300 and 400 young Chinese demonstrated on Sunday night near the Liangma, a river that irrigates Beijing, at the end of a day marked by similar gatherings in various parts of China.
“No Covid tests, we want to eat!” the protesters chanted, some brandishing white papers – alluding to censorship – others lighting candles on a small improvised altar. They respond to calls made on social media, arriving at the location one by one until finally they number in the hundreds.
A few bouquets of flowers are placed on the altar, where a sheet was also placed on which was written “for the victims who perished in the fire in Urumqi on November 24.”
This fire, which occurred in the capital of Xinjiang province, killed ten people on Thursday and accentuated the popular discontent that had already been increasing in recent months against the very rigorous “covid zero” policy followed by the authorities.
The authors of numerous posts circulating on social networks have accused the measures adopted against Covid of having aggravated this drama, making it difficult for help to arrive with cars parked for weeks due to confinement in the narrow alley that leads to the building in calls.
“We are all Xinjiang residents!” some protesters in Beijing proclaimed, according to an AFP journalist present at the scene.
“Come on Chinese! Long live the people!”, they add. Small groups sing, others wait patiently, despite the cold, filming the meeting with their mobile phones.
The demonstration, mainly by Chinese youth, is peaceful, but at least a dozen police cars are visible on the surrounding streets. Some officers divided the crowd to film the participants along the Liangma, which runs through one of Beijing’s most populous districts.
The protesters start speeches, while others chant slogans: “Freedom of art”, “Freedom of writing”… From the other side of the river, a voice is suddenly heard: “It is thanks to you that Beijing is proud!”
Passing motorists honk their horns to show their support, united in anger over “zero Covid”. A little later, the group begins to sing “The Internationale”, then the Chinese anthem.
“Don’t forget those who died in the bus accident in Guizhou, don’t forget freedom!” says a protester, referring to a tragedy that occurred in September in which this vehicle was transporting residents to a quarantine center and in which 27 people died.
“Remember the pregnant woman from Xi’an who died, those who did not have access to medical treatment in Shanghai,” shouts a second, citing other tragedies linked to the strict sanitary measures in force in China for almost three years.
“We won’t forget it!” the crowd responded in chorus.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. French time), the police tried to disperse the protesters but some resisted. An hour later, many of them are still there, determined not to move.
Source: BFM TV
