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Hu Yaobang
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Low-key farewell planned for Chen

Hu Yaobang

CHINA plans a low-key ceremony to mark the cremation of senior leader Chen Yun who died on Monday in Beijing at the age of 90.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Chen Jian said that in accordance with Chen's wishes and in terms of regulations, there would be no state funeral or major farewell ceremony.

It is likely that Chen will be given the same send-off as other senior leaders such as veterans Li Xiannian and Wang Zhen, where on the day of his cremation flags will fly at half mast in Tiananmen Square and his family and leaders will file past his body before it is taken to Babaoshan crematorium.

China issued new regulations in 1990 after the death of Hu Yaobang, the deposed general secretary of the Communist Party, the previous year triggered student uprisings against the authorities.

Chen and other veterans had insisted that Hu step down after accusing him of being too sympathetic to student democracy protesters in 1986.

In April 1989, students gathered in Tiananmen Square to mourn his death. In the Great Hall of the People leaders paid their respects at a grand ceremony.

The gatherings turned into the huge anti-government protests that were crushed by the army.

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