Wednesday, January 7, 2009

China Fears Year Of Conflict As Millions Struggle To Find Jobs

Photo: China's rulers are anxious that social instability should not lead to a repeat of the Tiananmen Square riots of 1989, as the country prepares to celebrate 60 years of Communist rule

From Times Online:

China is bracing itself for a surge of violent protest this year when unemployed migrant workers try to find work after the Chinese new year festival and millions of university graduates enter the jobs market.

Discontent could burst into the open and spread widely, according to an influential government magazine. It appeared that the article was issued as a warning to Communist Party officials to handle grievances with care.

China's Communist rulers have long been nervous that social instability might weaken their grip on power and undermine their claim to rule. They are anxious that celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of Communist Party rule on October 1 should be picture-perfect and are determined to avoid a repeat of the student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square that were crushed 20 years ago on June 4 by troops and tanks.

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