WORLD : Beijing Frees 97 Protesters
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BEIJING — China freed 97 pro-democracy protesters, including two student leaders, after the anniversary of the June 4 army attack on last year’s demonstrations passed without major unrest, officials said today.
The releases bring to 881 the number freed in the last six months, out of thousands arrested.
But new arrests have been reported as recently as last week, and the releases did not signal a softening by the aging leadership.
Rather, the leaders appeared to be trying to put the protests behind them and improve their image at home and abroad. China’s most-favored-nation trade status remains under review in the U.S. Congress, and foreign tourism and investment remain far below their pre-June, 1989, level.
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