07.07.07: THERE WAS fresh bloodshed on the streets of Hong Kong today
as students marked the 10th anniversary of the former British colony's
integration into China with renewed pro-democracy protests.
Seven protesters died and hundreds were wounded as Beijing ordered a
crackdown after months of peaceful demonstrations and calls for
independence.
In Beijing, there are reports of more factory shutdowns around the
country, with urban workers joining the student protests.
This may take the form of power-sharing, stopping short of a full
democratic system. As industry grinds to a halt in a number of
provinces, there are signs that the government is preparing for
significant constitutional change.
In London, civil rights campaigners have been seeking government
intervention in the sale of arms to China.
Beijing recently ordered a large consignment of high-powered, roof-based
CCTV sniper rifles and a cyberdrone pilotless helicopter that locates
human targets in riots.
"Britain now leads global trade in repressive surveillance
technologies," said one campaigner.
Secret police and armed forces in Nigeria, Angola, Rwanda and Indonesia,
as well as China, all use British weapons systems. PF
