Posted on by HSIN PAI
(Photo Credit: Anonymous demonstrator)

“CCP! Step down!” Protesters in London shouted out loud their appeals with anger against the strict zero-Covid policy implemented by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its supreme leader, Xi Jinping.

Crowds gathered at China’s embassy in London on Sunday night to light candles and place flowers in memory of the victims of the fire accident in Urumqi.

(Photo credit: Kathy)

(Photo credit: Kathy)

A fire broke out in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on the evening of the 24th local time, and it’s suspected that the implementation of the lockdown blocked residents from escaping and fire engines to rescue them, which then resulted in ten deaths and several injuries.

It has sparked a series of demonstrations in China and worldwide against the Chinese government and the Covid restrictions.

An anonymous protester sighed: “It’s really heartbreaking when something happens like that but in fact, this kind of tragedy may happen every day in China.”

People held papers to demand a halt to the lockdown and chanted the slogan used in the mourning activity for the fire in China: “We want freedom! We demand human rights! Lift the lockdown in Xinjiang! Step down Xi Jinping”.

A Chinese student who joined the protest said: “We are much safer than those in China, they shouted out. There’s no excuse for us to be afraid.”

Another protester said: “Courage is what we give each other.”

“Give me freedom, or give me death.” (Photo credit: Anonymous demonstrator)

On the same day in Shanghai, a BBC journalist, Ed Lawrence, was beaten and arrested by Chinese police while reporting on a protest against Covid lockdowns.

Lawrence tweeted: “I understand at least one local national was arrested after trying to stop the police from beating me.”

The BBC said he was arrested and handcuffed when covering the protests, and beaten and kicked by the police during his arrest. “It is very worrying that one of our journalists was attacked in this way whilst carrying out his duties”, mentioned in BBC’s statement.

The treatment of Lawrence was ‘extremely concerning’, said the BBC. 

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian said: “Based on what we learned from relevant Shanghai authorities, he(Lawrence) did not identify himself as a journalist and didn’t voluntarily present his press credentials.”

Lawrence and the BBC have received no official explanation or apology from the Chinese authorities.

BBC also said: “Beyond a claim by the officials who later released him that they had arrested him for his own good in case he caught Covid from the crowd. We do not consider this a credible explanation.”

The Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, wrote on Twitter: “Journalists must be able to do their job without intimidation”.