Shanghai Places Limits on Protests

Authorities in Shanghai, rocked by three days of pro-democracy protests by thousands of angry students, banned unauthorized demonstrations today and beefed up security around university campuses.

At least one group of about 300 banner-waving students defied the ban for a brief march before dispersing peacefully this evening, witnesses said. Campus posters warned that protests will continue if student demands are not met.

After four days of marches and rallies by students seeking democratic reforms, authorities today posted copies of a six-point official circular on campuses and streets around the city that said residents are forbidden to meet in large groups or to march without a permit. The circulars also warned against occupying radio and television stations or blocking traffic.

It was not known whether the students received a permit for their march today. Police made no efforts to halt the procession from People’s Square to City Hall. The students then turned around and marched back in a demonstration that was small and disorganized contrasted with those held during the weekend.

Banners Confiscated

Many of the students walked behind banners of Shanghai University, Shanghai Drama Institute and Shanghai Arts Institute. Protesters said other students from Jiaotong and Fudan universities, who led weekend demonstrations involving tens of thousands of students and workers, had their banners confiscated and were under tight surveillance when they tried to leave their campuses.

The daily rallies in Shanghai began Friday as students demanded greater democracy in the largest spontaneous demonstrations in China in a decade. Tens of thousands of students demonstrated in downtown Shanghai Sunday. (Story, Page 8.)

The government said when the protests began that the students had a constitutional right to demonstrate, but since has sharply rebuked them.