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Chinese pigeons were given a rectal exam before a national day celebration

The 10,000 pigeons were checked for ‘suspicious material’.

THE 10,000 PIGEONS released at a ceremony today for China’s National Day underwent unusual scrutiny, each having its feathers and anus checked for dangerous materials, reflecting government jitters over possible attacks.

The symbols of peace were released at sunrise in Beijing’s symbolic heart of Tiananmen Square in a ceremony for the 1 October holiday to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Beijing domestic security police officer Guo Chunwei was quoted in the Jinghua Times as saying workers checked the wings, legs and anus of each pigeon ahead of time to ensure they were “not carrying suspicious material.” The entire process was videotaped, and the birds were then loaded into sealed vehicles for the trip to Tiananmen Square, the newspaper said.

A similar report appeared in the Beijing News, and the People’s Daily.

The reports — which did not say what the suspicious materials might be — drew amused and derisive responses from some Chinese readers, and many news sites, including the Beijing News website, later deleted the reports.

Members of the Chinese public responded with sarcasm because they see in the pigeon body searches their own plight in what they consider an oppressive society with tight surveillance, censorship and judicial injustice, independent columnist Zhang Ping said in an editorial that was circulated on social media under his pen name, Changping.

“The liberty and dignity of citizens are increasingly vulnerable, and can be expropriated at any time, like with the pigeons,” Zhang wrote. “They have to go through the pains and insults of the rude anal check and yet they must appear peaceful and happy on the screen of the state broadcaster.”

The notched-up security measures reflect heightened concern about violence following a string of attacks blamed on separatist militants from the country’s ethnic Uighur Muslim minority, as well as bus explosions and random slashing attacks attributed to disgruntled individuals.

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18 Comments
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    Mute Stiofán De Priondárgas
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:21 AM

    Next weeks news: “Pigeon sues Chinese government over sexual harassment”

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    Mute Mike Dowling
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:07 AM

    Har-arse-ment…

    43
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    Mute Ian O'Donovan
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:13 AM

    They must have very small fingers.

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    Mute Huey
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:14 AM

    A nice job for the pigeon fanciers?

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    Mute John R
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:21 AM

    Well I suppose with a population approaching 1.4 billion people you have to find something for them to do!!

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    Mute Irish Names
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:13 AM

    Hope none of them were drinking Guinness last night.

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    Mute William Nunan
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:21 AM

    Maybe Enda should have one of those exams to see where his head is gone!

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    Mute Original Cynic
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:18 AM

    Dastardly and Muttley were busy then!

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    Mute Bill
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:48 AM

    In other barely reported news 68 Egyptian citizens were yesterday sentenced to 15 years jail each for protesting against the government

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    Mute Finbarr Quirke
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:16 AM

    Hmmm. Maybe I won’t take part in the celebration this year.

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    Mute Ablitive
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:33 AM

    10,000 rats with wings

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    Mute Derek Smalls
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    Oct 1st 2014, 11:52 AM

    Now I know what ‘flipping the bird’ means.

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    Mute Darren Dowdall
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:25 AM

    They shit you not!

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    Mute Paul Hallinan
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    Oct 1st 2014, 2:25 PM

    What a pain in the hole for the poor pigeons!

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    Mute John Horan
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    Oct 1st 2014, 12:44 PM

    For the sake of irony they should have released sparrows instead.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Oct 1st 2014, 2:40 PM

    Maybe they could use this on potential Seanad members?

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    Mute Luke
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 11:50 AM

    epic headline!

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    Mute Rory Corbett
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 12:57 AM

    The Chinese version of JobsBridge…

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