cnn news - about 9-18

Beijing refuses anti-Japan protestBy CNN Senior China Analyst Willy Wo-Lap LamWednesday, September 17, 2003 Posted: 0531 GMT ( 1:31 PM HKT)  War victims marched to the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong last year.  HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Beijing police have turned down an application for an anti-Japan demonstration on the anniversary of the Japanese forces' incursion into China's northeast in 1931. September 18, which marks the 72nd anniversary of the Manchurian Incident, has always been a sensitive date in bilateral relations. This year, several NGOs involved in seeking war reparations from Tokyo are focusing on demanding damages for harm done to Chinese as a result of the numerous bombs and other toxic material left over by the Japanese military in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Feng Jinhua, a member of the ad hoc committee that organized the protest, said their application was for no more than 50 demonstrators to take part. "The authorities have no reason to turn down this small-scale, orderly demonstration," Feng said, adding his group would appeal the police decision. Other activists indicated they would in any case present a petition bearing more than one million signatures to the Japanese embassy. The petition demanded that Tokyo foot the bill for clearing up all World War II-vintage bombs and for compensating victims injured by leftover ammunition and other toxic material. A separate petition, which is against using Japanese "bullet train" technology for the new rail link between Beijing and Shanghai, may also be presented to the embassy. Diplomatic analysts in Beijing said the Chinese government did not want the "anti-Japanese" movement to escalate into a full-fledged diplomatic incident that would hurt relations with Japan. Earlier this month, senior leaders from both countries exchanged visits to observe the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The analysts said, however, that Beijing had not clamped down on several private Web sites, which played key roles in the campaign to seek World War II-related damages from Japan. Nor has there been police interference with NGOs involved in protesting against Japanese "militarism" or Japan's occupation of the Diaoyu or Senkaku islands off Okinawa. Since last year, Chinese police and state security authorities have routinely closed down or harassed Web sites or NGOs engaged in political activities.