China: Human rights defenders detained and activists harassed by police on eve of Tiananmen Anniversary

Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) has documented the cases of sixty-five activists who have been subjected to harassment from officials in order to prevent them from organising or taking part in activities commemorating the Tiananmen Massacre.

Extract from statement by CHRD

"These individuals have been taken into police custody, had their movements restricted, been forced to leave their homes, or otherwise threatened or monitored by police. In addition to those documented below, more are feared to have been subjected to similar forms of harassment, but may have chosen to keep quiet to avoid repercussions. Many of these individuals are signatories to /Charter /08 and were participants in the 1989 pro-democracy movement.

Meanwhile, authorities ordered nearly 160 websites closed for “system maintenance” to prevent netizens from mobilising online and from learning about activities planned in many cities around the world to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre".

The full text of the statement is available on Chinese Human Rights Defenders