A decade ago, massive pro-democracy protests were staged at Tiananmen, the world's largest square. But in recent months, the square remained barricaded as repairs dragged on. Two people were arrested for protesting on the anniversary, along the square's northern edge, but the barricades ensured that no defiant acts of commemoration could take place on the square itself. Now, the square is ready for this year's 50th anniversary of the founding of Communist China on October 1.
Visitors find two strips of lawn planted on both sides of the square to break up the expanse.
Police kept the square sealed off for an hour after the ceremony before finally letting the crowds through. New regulations banned people from spitting chewing gum on the square's new granite paving and from taking stools onto the square to watch the flag raising and lowering ceremonies every morning and night, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said. Communist China plans to celebrate its 50th birthday on October 1 with a military parade. Richard Mitchell has also been declared ineligible to hold union office for five years. In his four-page statement to the union disciplinary committee, he argued his actions during last fall's protest were justified under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.