On November 30, 2022, Comrade Jiang Zemin, the great proletarian revolutionary and the core of the third generation of the Party’s central leadership collective, died of illness in Shanghai. On December 1, Beijing Tiananmen Square was lowered to mourn half of the flag.
So, under what circumstances will the country lower the flag at half-mast? Which great man was the longest ceremony for half-staff in the United Nations ever held?
Historical source of half-mast drop
Half-mast drop is a common way of mourning in the world today. When an important person from a certain country dies or faces a serious natural disaster, in order to express the most painful condolences and condolences of the people of the country, the country lowers the flag to express his grief in a public place.
This practice originated in 1612 when the British captain "Hazis" died. In order to express his condolences, the crew lowered the flag on the ship to a certain distance from the top of the flagpole. This method of mourning gradually spread to land in the 17th century and was adopted by various countries, with a history of more than 400 years.
How to lower the flag
The so-called lowering of half the flag does not mean lowering the national flag halfway. Article 18 of my country's " National Flag Law " clearly stipulates that before half-stand, the national flag should be raised slowly until it reaches the top of the flagpole, and then lower the national flag to one-third of the total length of the flagpole, and the national flag shall not be allowed to land. In addition to the national flag, the special administrative region flag can also be used as a half-staff lowering.
However, not all countries in the world have the custom of lowering the flag at half-mast to express their condolences. For example, the flag of Saudi Arabia is not allowed to lower half-mast because the flag contains the name of Allah, so it cannot be lowered.
Under what circumstances can my country lower half-stud
The situation of my country lowering half-stud :
1, National leaders die , such as Chairman Mao’s death; 2, Major natural disaster , such as Wenchuan earthquake; 3, Foreign politicians die , such as Stalin dies; 4, Major historical events , such as Yugoslavia’s embassy was bombed and Chinese journalists died.
According to relevant laws and regulations of China, the scope of the lowering of the flag is not certain. On the death of important national leaders, major historical disasters or natural disasters, or important days of mourning for the deaths of important national leaders, or important deaths, the whole country should lower the flag to mourn.
Internationally stipulates that the head of state or government dies, and the UN headquarters will lower the flag in the name of the United Nations to show condolences. Generally speaking, should be performed immediately on the day when is heard from the death news. If the flag has been raised that day, it will usually not be lowered again and the ceremony should be postponed until the day after the news is received.
If the above ritual cannot be carried out normally due to weather or other reasons, it can also be held on the funeral day. In extremely special circumstances, the United Nations will lower the flag at half-mast on the death of and funeral .
In addition, when a symbolic figure of a country dies, member states with good diplomatic relations with the country can also hold a half-mast lowering ceremony. For example, on September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II of the UK passed away. On the day of the body being buried, Singapore held a half-mast lowering to express respect for the queen.
1Half-stitches have been put down since the founding of New China How many times have been put down half-stitches
Since the founding of New China, the half-stitches in Tiananmen Square have been lowered by 54Half-stitches, of which 32 have been the death of Chinese national leaders, 17 have been the foreign politicians, 1 have been the death of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Embassy and the reporters. The other 4 have been the Wenchuan earthquake, Yushu earthquake, Zhouqu mudslide, and the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic.
The United Nations lowered the flag for Chinese people six times
At the beginning of its establishment, the United Nations clearly stipulated that when a country's incumbent head of state dies, it can lower the flag to express condolences. There are two prerequisites here: First, must be the incumbent , retirement does not count; second, , king, emperor, etc., and the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister do not count. However, the United Nations has made an exception for Premier Zhou Enlai in China.
In the more than 70 years since the founding of the United Nations, the headquarters has experienced 20 low-staffing experiences, 6 of which were for the Chinese. They are: Chairman Mao, Zhu De, Zhou Enlai, Soong Ching Ling , Deng Xiaoping, and Du Zhaoyu.
11976 Premier Zhou Enlai passed away. After learning about the Prime Minister's death, the United Nations government decided to hold a weekly ceremony to express its awe and memorial to Prime Minister Zhou Enlai in accordance with the regulations on the death of the head of government.
You should know that according to the past of the United Nations, there has never been a precedent for a country leader to lower the flag for a week. You should know that the United Nations lowers the flag, not only the United Nations flag is lowered, but requires all the flags of all member states to be lowered.
In response to this, some countries expressed their objections to this. They believe that Zhou Enlai is not the current leader and has retired. Moreover, although Prime Minister Zhou has a huge influence in the international community, he is not the head of state, so he is not suitable for the United Nations to lower the flag for him.
At this time, Waldheim, then Secretary-General of the United Nations, stepped forward and delivered a very wonderful speech at the meeting.
He pointed out: "If anyone among you does the following three things, my decision will be taken back immediately.
First, Zhou Enlai, as an important leader of a big country, did not have a single deposit after 's death. Second, China has more than one billion people, but Premier Zhou did not have a child after 's death. Third, China has a vast land and wealth, but Premier Zhou's will requires to leave no body , and after his death, he scattered his ashes in the mountains and rivers of the motherland."
"Only Zhou Enlai of China has done these three points. In the future, the head of state of any of your country can do any of them, and the headquarters will still lower the flag for him." Waldheim turned around and left, with thunderous applause coming from behind.
11979 On January 9, 1979, the United Nations Headquarters lowered the flag at half-mast for Premier Zhou to express the condolences of people all over the world for him. The ceremony lasted until January 15, lasting a week, and it is also the longest UN half-staff hike in history.
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