Mark O'Neill in Beijing writes: "The Communist Party has closed one of the mainland's key theoretical
journals as part of an attack on those who oppose the decision of President
Jiang Zemin to end a ban on membership by private business people.
Staff at Zhenli de Zhuiqiu (Seeking Truth) said yesterday authorities had
ordered the closure of the monthly magazine after 11 years, ahead of
publication of the August issue, and that its 10 employees would retire or
be moved to other jobs. Editor Yu Quanyu was likely to retire. No reason was
given for the closure, they said.



The monthly has been devoted to the theory of Marxism, Leninism and Mao
Zedong Thought and its application to China.



Sources said Mr Jiang ordered the closure, angered over opposition within
the party to his speech on its 80th anniversary on July 1, in which he
lifted an 80-year ban on private business people joining the party.



Many party members, especially veterans of the war against the Kuomintang,
have written to Mr Jiang, saying his decision was a mistake and that he
announced it without proper consultation within the party.



In comments to the New York Times published on Saturday, Mr Jiang said the
party must apply the fundamental tenets of Marxism to the real conditions in
China. "Marx and Engels lived more than 150 years ago. It is impossible to
apply every single word or sentence they wrote at that time to today's
reality," he said.



In response to the criticism, Mr Jiang has gone on a counter-offensive,
with mandatory study sessions of his July 1 speech for party members."