Macau Denies Permission For Annual Tiananmen Vigil

Macau has refused permission for an annual photo exhibition of the Tiananmen crackdown for the first time in three decades, activists said on Tuesday, as they accused the government of stifling free speech.

The semi-autonomous city's dwindling community of democracy supporters have marked the June 4 anniversary of Beijing's bloody crackdown against protesting students since 1989 with a small vigil and an outdoor photo exhibition.

Organisers said permission was initially granted for the exhibition this year by the city's Municipal Affairs Bureau but was later rescinded.

The Democratic Development Union described the decision as a "sudden U-turn" with authorities citing new administrative rules governing how public spaces can be used.

"For 30 years, we've been the organiser of the exhibition and we have always been happy to cooperate with the bureau and follow instructions," the union wrote in an objection letter posted on Facebook.

"Nothing unpleasant has happened before and we have not brought any annoyance to the government or residents."

Opposition groups accused authorities of stamping down on political discussion.

"The (Bureau's) prohibition is obviously based on political reasons," the New Macau Association, a pro-democracy group, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

"It is using administrative means to suppress freedom of expression and to minimise the space for the civil society."

Local media said the head of the Municipal Affairs Bureau had denied the decision was political.

Macau's annual vigils are far smaller, but in Hong Kong the annual events have attracted hundreds of thousands of people.

It is not clear whether next month's vigil will get permission given emergency anti-coronavirus restrictions currently limiting public gatherings. 

On the mainland, any references to the crackdown are purged. (AFP)