Natural gas supply has been cut off around July 1 from households in Beijing’s Donghuamen sub-district in Dongcheng district in a move to secure celebrations of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) anniversary, sources have told The Epoch Times.
July 1 is the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
A netizen posted on social media that community officials will arrange for meals to be sent to residents. The ban will not lifted until July 4.
Geographically, Donghuamen is of great importance to Beijing—it is home to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, China’s ministries of foreign affairs, foreign trade and economic cooperation, and public security, among others.
“At this delicate time, the CCP considers [natural gas] a risk,” a male resident with the surname Zheng told The Epoch Times on June 29. “It would frown at any fire in the restricted areas.”
Another internet user posted an image of three breakfast coupons issued by local authorities to the affected residents. With the Hepingmen Market shown on the front, the coupons are worth 20 yuan (about $3.13) each, and are valid until July 5. Residents can use them at designated eateries.
Staff from the Hepingmen Market expressed that they didn’t know the reason for its appearance on the coupons, which were implemented by community administrators.
The Epoch Times could not reach the relevant neighborhood committee for comment by phone.
“It’s too much that residents cannot cook at home,” complained Zheng.
“Today, as social conflicts are serious in China, the CCP regime is far from resting assured,” he added. “It’s frightened at the anger coming from the grassroots. That’s why harsh security measures are seen in the name of ‘anti-terrorism’ across the country.”
Wide-ranging precautions have been announced by the CCP as the regime works to maintain control over events for its 100th anniversary, including traffic controls; restrictions on knife purchases; removing petitioners at government offices seeking redress; and banning drones, model airplanes, kites, and balloons in nine districts designated as no-fly zones.
“It’s a strict rule across Beijing that any knife buyer must pay an in-person visit and present his or her ID in advance,” a shop assistant at a knife store in Huilongguan of Changping district, Beijing, told The Epoch Times on June 29. “Buyers’ ID must be registered with the Beijing Public Security Bureau.”
“All buyers have to come to the store and show their IDs,” another shop assistant at one of Beijing’s well-known Wangmazi knife and scissors stores said of the restrictions. “What’s more, you cannot go away with it even you have paid the money. It can only be posted to you—and the posting be made after July 2.”
