By Brian Marple, Lori Har-El, and Laura Market
NEW YORK – A tense afternoon punctuated by scuffles and arguments marked Chinese leader Hu Jintao’s visit to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Tuesday.
At least five different groups gathered to see Hu, some with starkly different views. Hu was to meet with President George W. Bush Tuesday afternoon.
Police juxtaposed Hu’s welcomers, composed of roughly 1000 people and nearly all holding small red flags, with several hundred Falun Gong practitioners. “We want to appeal to Hu and hope that he stops the persecution of Falun Gong,” said Helen Peng, who arrived on Monday from Toronto.
Fellow Toronto resident Tan Ying added, “I hope that Hu quits the Party and forms a new party so that we can really get rid of corruption.”
Speaking of the welcomers, she said, “Hu welcome team think they’re patriotic but they don’t understand patriotism.”
Numerous members of the Hu welcome team refused requests for interviews.
The Hu welcome team grew more antagonistic as the afternoon wait for Hu went on. When a trailer with banners showing slogans like “Chinese Communist Party is anti-humanity,” and “Refuse to welcome CCP for the sake of dignity and integrity,” and “80 million died under Communist Tyranny” passed by the Hu welcome team, they jeered and waved their flags at the truck drivers.
Other times Chinese welcome team members could be heard shouting at Falun Gong practitioners, saying “Get out of here!”
The roughly 150 supporters of Taiwanese independence were also incensed at the Hu welcome party. When Chinese people with red flags passed by the block sectioned off for them, the Taiwanese supporters shouted and stood in front of the Hu welcome team members. One Hu welcome team member was forced by police back to his group when he tried to argue with the Taiwanese supporters.
“The CCP is never honest, always lies, and goes against all the things people should do,” said Jeanne Kuo Chang, a New Yorker for 26 years and a member of the Taiwan independence supporters. “I think it’s the biggest terrorist in the world.”
“4.5 million people have quit the [Chinese Communist] Party. I think its end is near,” she continued.
Tensions flared up around 4:50 p.m. when a scuffle broke out between a Chinese man wearing a suit and a few Free Tibet supporters draped in Tibetan flags two blocks away from the Waldorf-Astoria. Loud cursing in English could be heard 20 feet away, before some pushing and shoving was broken up by police. The man in the suit was identified as Sinovision reporter Zhang Wu. Sinovision is a New York-based Chinese-language TV network.
The more than 200 Free Tibet supporters plan to follow Hu to wherever he goes and to maintain a constant presence outside the United Nations building, where Hu will be tomorrow. “What we need is an end to the CCP,” said Tenzin Dorjee with Students for a Free Tibet. “Without the CCP Tibet and China would coexist more peacefully.” “For U.S. and China to be really truly friendly, one of the most important issues is a free Tibet.”
Hu attends the U.N. World Summit Wednesday and will leave for Mexico on Thursday.
