In a bid to placate rights activists, China will set aside three protest zones in Beijing during the Olympics in August.
According to the Los Angeles Times, protesters have to get permission from the government a week before demonstrating, giving the names of organizers, the topic of protest and number of participants.
The protest areas, all located in public parks, are out of the view of sports venues.
According to Olympic security director Liu Shaowu, “Chinese law guarantees the legal rights of demonstration and assembly.”
Human rights activists disagree, arguing that protests “harmful to national unity or social stability” will result in arrest.
— Julia Hengst/Newsdesk.org
“China to allow limited protests during Olympics”
Los Angeles Times, July 24, 2008