"RED GUARDS" SMASHING AND CHANGING NAMES OF A BANK, LARGE SHOP, STREET, MARKET AND MUSEUM.




Initials JRG/VS/MGT/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE RED "GUARDS" IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARE CONTINUING THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, AND TODAY IN PEKING, CHINESE TROOPS AND POLICE GUARDED THE SOVIET EMBASSY AS A MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION BY THE "RED GUARDS" WAS GOING ON TO RENAME THE STREET LEADING TO THE EMBASSY. IT IS NOW CALLED THE "STRUGGLE AGAINST REVISIONISM".

NAME CHANGING IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF THE "RED GUARDS" IN THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION SWEEPING THE COUNTRY. GROUPS OF "RED GUARDS" INCLUDING GIRL STUDENTS HAVE RAIDED THE HOMES OF SEVERAL PEKING RESIDENTS.

RELIGIOUS AND IMPERIAL SYMBOLS HAVE BEEN REMOVED OR COVERED UP AT THE FORMER IMPERIAL PEI HAI PARK, A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION RISING BEHIND THE ANCIENT WALLED "FORBIDDEN CITY" IN THE CENTRE OF PEKING, AND THE FAMOUS SQUARE OF HEAVENLY PEACE (TIEN AN MEN) HAS HAD ITS NAME CHANGED.

SINCE THE "RED GUARDS:" CAMPAIGN BEGAN OVER A WEEK AGO, CHINESE OLD AND YOUNG HAVE OUT CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT, AS THE "RED GUARD" CONSIDERS LONG HAIR A SIGN OF DECADENCE.