China detains activists, mutes livestreams ahead of Tiananmen anniversary

Chinese authorities have detained several activists ahead of the politically explosive 30th anniversary of the June 4 crackdown of Tiananmen protests, rights groups said Thursday.

Discussions of the 1989 pro-democracy protests and its military suppression are taboo in China, and authorities have rounded up or warned activists, lawyers and journalists ahead of the anniversary each year.

Internet censors also usually work on overdrive, and this year popular livestreaming sites are shutting down around the anniversary for "technical" reasons.

But this year's attempts to mute public discourse are harsher than usual, said Cao Yaxue, founder of the Washington-based rights group China Change, because Beijing has become increasingly intolerant of dissenting voices.

Among the string of activists detained or "disappeared" are six artists who had put up a painting and performing art exhibition titled
I think these past 30 years, the stable process of China's reform and development and the achievements that have been made are an answer to this question."