The 10,000 doves released in a ceremony Wednesday
for China's National Day underwent unusual
scrutiny, each having its feathers and anus
checked for dangerous materials, state-run
media reports said, reflecting government
jitters over possible attacks.
The symbols of peace were released at sunrise
in Beijing's symbolic heart of Tiananmen Square
in a ceremony for the Oct. 1 holiday to celebrate
the 65th anniversary of the founding of the
People's Republic of China.
Beijing domestic security police officer Guo
Chunwei was quoted in the Jinghua Times as
saying workers checked the wings, legs and
anus of each pigeon ahead of time to ensure
they were "not carrying suspicious material."
The entire process was videotaped, and the
birds were then loaded into sealed vehicles
for the trip to Tiananmen Square, the newspaper
said.
A similar report appeared in the Beijing News,
and the People's Daily tweeted about it in
English: "10,000 pigeons go through anal security
check for suspicious objects Tue, ready to
be released on National Day on Wed."
The reports — which did not say what the
suspicious materials might be — drew amused
and derisive responses from some Chinese readers,
and many news sites, including the Beijing
News website, later deleted the reports.
However, the Jinghua Times report and the
People's Daily tweet were still visible as
of midday Wednesday.
Members of the Chinese public responded with
sarcasm because they see in the pigeon body
searches their own plight in what they consider
an oppressive society with tight surveillance,
censorship and judicial injustice, independent
columnist Zhang Ping said in an editorial
that was circulated on social media under
his pen name, Changping.
"The liberty and dignity of citizens are increasingly
vulnerable, and can be expropriated at any
time, like with the pigeons," Zhang wrote.
"They have to go through the pains and insults
of the rude anal check and yet they must appear
peaceful and happy on the screen of the state
broadcaster."
The notched-up security measures reflect heightened
concern about violence following a string
of attacks blamed on separatist militants
from the country's ethnic Uighur Muslim minority,
as well as bus explosions and random slashing
attacks attributed to disgruntled individuals.
Last October, three Uighurs in a vehicle rammed
through crowds in front of Tiananmen Gate
in central Beijing and set off explosives
in an attack that killed themselves and three
bystanders.
Beijing authorities also are sending police
helicopters to monitor highway checkpoints,
ring roads within the city, major intersections
and areas with heavy traffic, including popular
tourist spots such as the Great Wall and the
Summer Palace, the Beijing News said.
Additionally, the capital has mobilized 850,000
citizen volunteers to help keep a lookout
in the city of about 20 million people, the
newspaper said.
