What Will Be Done With the Huge ‘Ethnic Minority Pillars’ Lining Tiananmen Square?

By chinafreepress.org (translation)
Oct 18, 2009 – 5:09:54 AM

(Videos/Photos) What Will Be Done With the Huge ‘Ethnic Minority Pillars’ Lining Tiananmen Square?

Boxun reports on Saturday October 17 that even though it has been almost three weeks since the landmark 60th anniversary National Day celebration, Tiananmen Square is still jammed with visitors. Most are tour groups, their travel funded by the Party-State and State Owned Enterprises for the purpose of “patriotic education.”

Still standing are the 56 red pillars (representing China’s 56 ethnic minority groups) on both sides of Tiananmen and four huge flat screens, emblazoned with the contradictory slogans: “Uphold the Communist Party’s leadership, the ‘people’ are in charge, rule according to law.” Each of the pillars weighs 26 tons, accounting for an enormous amount of wasted expense, not to mention the probable corruption their procurement entailed. There is much discussion among average citizens over whether the pillars will be kept in place or removed, and if removed when and to where?

Full Chinese report: http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2009/10/200910180559.shtml