June 2, 1999
Web posted at: 12:34 p.m. EDT (1634 GMT)

BEIJING (CNN) -- At the approach of the 10th anniversary of its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests, the Chinese government on Wednesday detained seven activists who planned to commemorate the event.

The Hong Kong-based Information Center of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China said in a statement that the seven planned to mark the anniversary in a Hangzhou city park on Thursday. The government has detained nearly 80 dissidents in recent weeks, the center said, and still holds 28 of them.

The center also said that police had refused permission for 70 dissidents to hold a candlelight vigil in the central city of Xian.

The student-led pro-democracy protests had been going on in Tiananmen Square for seven weeks on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops moved against protesters, killing hundreds.

Who's who The government • Deng • Jiang • Zhu The Activists: Division in the ranks • Chai Ling, Li Lu, Wang Dan, Wuer Kaixi • Families still mourn Interactive Gallery: • A look back Modern China • Rural democracy • Military might Interview transcripts • a crackdown defender • a victim's mother • former Communist Party official • Premier Zhu Rongji From TIME Asia • We remember • Where are they now? • Memories that won't fade Message Board • Tiananmen Square anniversary

In an unusual direct mention of the 1989 movement, the Communist Party's leading newspaper on Wednesday said the government's response to the protests had been correct.

"The firm and resolute suppression of the political turmoil in Beijing in the spring and summer of 1989 was extremely timely and completely necessary to preserve the country's independence, dignity, security and stability," People's Daily said.

The newspaper also accused Western governments and dissidents of fomenting discord in China, both in 1989 and 1999. In Beijing, officials ordered all hotels, office buildings and apartments which normally receive CNN to shut down the signal until June 8 due to "recent programs about 'June 4th.'"

The Beijing Public Security Bureau issued the order Monday morning, according to a document issued to building security departments around the city. The document advised building and hotel managers to tell guests that "the satellite signal is experiencing problems" in the event of complaints or inquiries.

Meanwhile, dissidents -- particularly those wounded in the 1989 crackdown and family members of those killed -- continued to press for redress from the government.

In a lawsuit filed last month and announced Tuesday in New York, 160 victims' families and 70 of the wounded demanded an official apology and investigation. But China is unlikely to look favorably on the lawsuit.

"The party center has already drawn its conclusion over the turmoil," said an official in China's indictment collection office who would not give his name. "We won't accept any indictment arguing this point."

Although the United States has criticized China for the 1989 crackdown against protesters and its human rights record, CNN has learned that President Clinton will notify Congress on Thursday that he intends to extend China's Most Favored Nation trading status for another year.

Senior White House Correspondent Wolf Blitzer, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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