UK: LONDON: CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN - 4 DAY VISIT

Описание: (18 Oct 1999) English/Nat

Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrives in Britain on Monday for what is widely anticipated to be highly controversial visit, with many protests planned during his four day stay.

The President is very sensitive to protests within earshot and said Switzerland had "lost a friend" when campaigners were allowed to make noisy demonstrations during his visit there in March this year.

The stage is set for Tuesday's traditional carriage ride down the Mall to Buckingham Palace with Britain's Queen.

The Chinese and British flags fly side by side for the first ever state visit by a Chinese President.

If the weather is good, President Jiang will ride down here in an open top horse drawn carriage - exposed on all sides to what is expected to be a large and noisy demonstration from Free Tibet campaigners.

It's a mighty headache for Britain's police force.

When questioned about it in a briefing last week, the Foreign Office refused to give any details about the security plans - but they will be hoping to avoid accusations levelled against Switzerland in March this year when President Zemin felt the force of noisy protests.

The President was so displeased he snubbed a welcoming ceremony and told the Swiss parliament they had lost a good friend.

Protestors for Tibet and Taiwan even managed to scale a building near the parliament to make their presence felt.

At the Free Tibet headquarters in the centre of London they are getting ready for the visit.

Activists such as Migmar Tsering, whose parents were exiled from Tibet forty years ago are preparing placards and posters which they are determined President Jiang will see.

Campaigners claim that ever since the Dalai Lama fled Lhasa in 1959, China has pursued a campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing to obliterate Tibetan culture.

Alison Reynolds, who is leading the Free Tibet protest, says it is their responsibility to make their voices heard on behalf of those who would be jailed in China for doing so.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The Free Tibet campaign will be demonstrating throughout Jiang Zemin's visit. He's clearly very, very sensitive to public protest. It's not regarded as a legitimate activity - you can be arrested and tortured for expressing your opinion in China and Tibet so we feel it is our responsibility for those people who can't speak out to make sure that there is a very loud and vocal demonstration throughout Jiang Zemin's visit."
SUPER CAPTION: Alison Reynolds, Director, Free Tibet Campaign

The final leaflets are being bundled into envelopes urging as many people as possible to attend the protests.

Alison Reynolds and her counterpart at another Tibetan organisation visited the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street last week.

They did not meet Mr Blair, but were given time with a Foreign Office minister to outline their grievances.

After the meeting Shui Li (pron:: Shway Lee) made plain his intention to do all he can to disrupt President Jiang's visit.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"He's just never experienced such a sign of disagreement inside China. He's got used to everyone agreeing with him. Over here we're going to teach him a lesson - teach him what democracy is all about. It's all about disagreement and tolerance."
SUPER CAPTION: Shui Li, Federation for a Democratic China

The purpose of the visit will be to renew Chinese and British ties following the handover of Hong Kong two years ago.

Trade relations will be high on the agenda as China becomes increasingly open to foreign investment.



SOUNDBITE:( English)


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