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Uyghur-run restaurants in Hangzhou closed prior to G20 summit Known dissidents have also been taken out of the Chinese city on enforced 'vacations'August 24, 2016Uyghur-run restaurants in the city of Hangzhou are being shut by Chinese authorities in the lead up to the city's hosting the G20 summit in early September say residents, according to RFA. "There is a noodle place run by people from Xinjiang near my home, and suddenly four busloads of police parked outside and got out," one Hangzhou resident surnamed Sun told RFA Aug. 23. "I thought they were going to arrest people. They were even carrying guns," Sun said. Word later went around the neighborhood, she said, that police were under orders to shutter the restaurant for the duration of the two-day G20 summit. "They brought the guns because they were afraid the Uyghurs would be unwilling to leave," Sun said. "Then they searched the whole place to make sure there was nobody left inside … and shuttered it and sealed the doors with paper strips." RFA reporters phoned other Uyghur-run restaurants in Hangzhou during office hours but the calls went unanswered. The city is in increased security mode with the upcoming summit say residents. Known dissidents have been taken out of town on enforced "vacations," said the report. Authorities have already closed churches in the city citing "safety reasons" said earlier reports. Related Reports |