Ostaran Times

[Hadash]

Ostaran Times

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Tieguo government continues crackdown of opposition
By: Lucy Yeung
Published: Septem 28, 1599


Tieguonese police in Duonzhou

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Hundreds of protestors have been sentenced to jail, in the first trials following the recent crackdown of protests in Duongzhou and other cities, which led to an unconfirmed number of casualties after Tieguonese security forces shot at protesters, according to witnesses.

Since them, thousands of people have been arrested, including political and human rights activists, journalists, and lawyers, and at least 10,000 teachers and civil servants have been fired. According to some unconfirmed reports, thousands of immigrants and Tieguonese citizens of ethnic Singanese and Kazemuran background were also arrested and moved to unknown prisons. Although a number of them have recently been released, according to local media, it is not clear how many remain in police custody.

Meanwhile, Tieguonese government, despite foreign criticism how the protests were handed, tries to continue business as usual. Last week, Qiu Yu Zhao, in his second speech since the end of the protests, blamed foreign interference and promised the Tieguonese Nationalist Party was ready to "use any means" to defend Tieguo. However, yesterday, Deputy Premier Ming Guanyu Zhu had a more conciliatory tone, declaring that Tieguonese government will continue most of their economic policies, although with minor changes, in order to promote both economic growth and a more competitive economy. He also confirmed that there will be a national conference in two months, in which new policies are expected to be announced.

Most of foreign journalists arrested during the protests were already released and deported back to their countries, local media reported. However, it is unlikely they will be able to return to Tieguo, according to sources. Five reporters remain missing. Three of them -a Goldecian and two Castlians- have been missing since the protests, and the Tieguonese government assures that, according to the information, they weren't arrested or wounded during the protests. Two other journalist -both of Svarnan citizenship- who have been arrested during the protests are currently missing. The Tieguonese government has declared that they were arrested and recently released, but they ignore their current whereabouts. The Tieguonese government has offered cooperation and transparency in order to find them as soon as possible, in the case they remained in the country.