Drew Pavlou
Pavlou speaking at a rally in January 2020
Born (1999-06-04) 4 June 1999 (age 24)
Education
Known forStudent activism against the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese government
Political partyDrew Pavlou Democratic Alliance (2021–2023)

Drew Pavlou (born 4 June 1999) is an Australian political activist best known for his criticism of the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party.[1][2] Pavlou is also known for organising protests on-campus in support of the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.[3][4][5]

In May 2020, he was suspended for two years from the University of Queensland (UQ), which alleged 11 instances of misconduct. The action drew national attention in Australia, including from former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.[6][7] An appeal of his case by the UQ Senate Disciplinary Appeals Committee upheld two of the initial charges and reduced his suspension to one semester.[8] Pavlou returned to UQ in early 2021.[9][10][8]

In December 2021, Pavlou launched the Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance federal political party. He ran for the Australian Senate in the 2022 Australian federal election, alongside five other candidates, but was unsuccessful. The party was voluntarily deregistered in November 2023.

In July 2022, Pavlou was arrested in London for an alleged bomb threat against the Chinese Embassy; an allegation he denied. Pavlou has alleged that the bomb threat was part of a campaign to have him falsely charged and arrested. No charges were issued; Pavlou alleged the Metropolitan Police denied him consular services.[11][12]

Early life and education

Pavlou was born on 4 June 1999.[13] Pavlou's family, who are Greek Cypriots from the Larnaca District of Cyprus, migrated to Australia in the 1960s to open a number of hospitality and retail shops on the Gold Coast in Queensland.[14][15] At two years old, Pavlou's family moved to Brisbane, where he would then go on to complete high school at Villanova College.[16] Growing up, Pavlou was bullied in school for his heritage, being called slurs such as wog.[17] He was then admitted to the University of Queensland where he was studying for a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Philosophy before his suspension.[18] His grandmother's brother was a fighter with Greek nationalist guerrilla organisation EOKA, and was killed during the Cyprus Emergency.[14]

Activism and controversies

2019 Hong Kong protests in UQ

In July 2019, during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Pavlou organised a protest at the University of Queensland in support of the Hong Kong democracy movement. He has alleged that he was assaulted twice during clashes with counter-protestors who were supporting the Chinese Government.[19][20] The counter-protesters were in the hundreds and had shouted pro-Beijing slogans and played China's national anthem over loudspeakers. Covering the incident, the LA Times wrote: "Things quickly turned violent. A man in the crowd rushed at Pavlou, snatching his megaphone. A second man shoved him. In the ensuing scuffles, one student from Hong Kong was tackled and grabbed by the throat; another had her shirt ripped open."[21] Brisbane-based Chinese Consular-General and adjunct professor at UQ, Xu Jie, responded to the protests by condoning counter-protestors for "self-motivated patriotic behaviour" and condemning the protest as "anti-China separatist activities". Pavlou responded by alleging Xu Jie was inciting violence and issuing a death threat, a claim which was rejected by the Chinese embassy in Canberra. The Magistrates Court rejected the application for a case before it was heard at trial, citing international diplomatic immunity laws.[22][1]

Suspension from the University of Queensland

Throughout April and May 2020, Pavlou was summoned to the University of Queensland disciplinary board after a 186-page report suggested he violated university student discipline policies 11 times, and was suspended for 2 years. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd criticised Chancellor Peter Varghese's handling of the suspension, claiming the university was overly conciliatory to Beijing.[6][7]

Allegations by the university included bullying, discrimination, and harassment of students and staff, both online and on-campus. ABC News has reported that complaints raised to the board include Pavlou improperly claiming to make statements on behalf of the university and a Facebook post of Pavlou posing in front of the UQ Confucius Institute in a biohazard suit during the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

Pavlou admitted to directing profanity at students on Facebook and another university forum after UQ claimed complaints were raised by a number of students.[2] On 5 May, Pavlou walked out of a disciplinary board hearing, labelling the hearing as a "Stalinist show trial". Pavlou's legal team claimed that they were denied access to confidential university documents that may demonstrate UQ collusion with the Chinese government. A spokesperson for the university stated that the matter did not concern political freedom of speech but misbehaviour, that university policy is developed independently of politics, and that the university was unable to comment directly on the matters of the hearing.[24]

On 29 May, the board handed down its decision to suspend Pavlou for two years, the remainder of Pavlou's tenure as UQ senator.[25][26] UQ Chancellor Peter Varghese expressed concern on the UQ News website about "the findings and the severity of the penalty", convening an out-of-session meeting of the UQ Senate to discuss the matter.[9]

On 2 June, Pavlou sought a review from the UQ Senate Disciplinary Appeals Committee (SDAC), the appellate body for disciplinary matters formed from the UQ Senate, and student and staff representatives.[9] On 13 July, SDAC issued its findings, concluding that two counts of serious misconduct were justified, however dismissing other charges. As a result, SDAC reduced the suspension from two years to one semester (roughly six months).[8] In a statement released by the Committee and Chancellor Varghese, they explained that "neither of the findings of serious misconduct concerned Mr Pavlou's personal or political views about China or Hong Kong", and that Pavlou is now ineligible to return as a UQ senator, under the University of Queensland Act.[9]

In September 2020, the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission declined a request by Pavlou to investigate Chancellor Peter Varghese and former Vice-Chancellor Peter Høj, citing "insufficient evidence to suggest anyone who was subject of the complaint had engaged in corrupt conduct". The university responded in a press statement that it was pleased by the findings, and that it had been advised by the commission that no action will be taken.[27]

Pavlou returned to university in early 2021.[28]

Court case against the University of Queensland

On 11 June 2020, Pavlou launched a case against the University of Queensland, Chancellor Varghese, and former Vice-Chancellor Høj, seeking damages of A$3.5 million for an alleged breach of contract and defamation. The case was lodged with the Supreme Court of Queensland. In a response to an ABC News inquiry, a UQ spokesperson said, "when we receive a formal notice of claim we will consider it and respond through the appropriate channels."[29] Pavlou announced the case on Twitter, saying he was "seeking damages for breach of contract, negligence, defamation, deceit and conspiracy" and that the case was "not about money".[30]

2022 protest sign controversy

In April 2022, while running for Australian Senate, Pavlou held a sign protesting against President of China Xi Jinping, near a shopping center at the predominantly Asian suburb of Eastwood in New South Wales. The sign read "Fuck Xi Jinping" in Chinese, and resulted in bystanders confronting Pavlou, and eventual police intervention. During a court trial in 2023 related to the incident, Pavlou was charged with offensive behavior in public, and refusing to comply with a police direction, but was mainly charged of fornication, with police claiming that his sign read "Xi Jinping, fuck your mother". The charges of fornication were dropped at the court trial after the translator at the trial stated that Pavlou's sign carried a general curse against Xi, but not a literal message of fornication.[31][32][33]

Expulsion from 2022 Wimbledon men's singles final

On 10 July 2022, Pavlou was thrown out of the 2022 Wimbledon men's singles final for interrupting the match to shout "where is Peng Shuai" in reference to the Chinese tennis player who disappeared after accusing retired Vice Premier of China Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault.[34] Pavlou claimed that security staff pushed him over a row of seats and down a flight of stairs where he hit his head on a wall while twisting his arms behind his back.[35][36] Wimbledon officials denied Pavlou's claims that excessive force had been used against him. An All England Club spokesman stated, "a spectator was removed from Centre Court after disrupting play by shouting, running down the stairs and causing a nuisance to their fellow spectators. The individual was removed by security colleagues and escorted off the grounds";[37] while Pavlou stated, "I'm sorry that I disrupted the match for 30 seconds, I tried to pick a break in between games to silently hold up my #WhereIsPengShuai sign but security immediately crash tackled me which is why I shouted out so people would hear Peng Shuai's name on the broadcast."[34]

Arrest in London

On 22 July, Pavlou was arrested by the Metropolitan Police outside the Chinese Embassy in London, while protesting alleged human rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese state, by displaying the flags of Tibet, Taiwan, and Uyghurs.[11][12]

Pavlou said that he was detained for 23 hours in incommunicado without access to lawyers, for an alleged bomb threat. He claimed that during his detainment, he had been treated poorly and had been handcuffed in a stress position; he added that he was forced to sign a document, giving up his right to legal representation and that he was forced to do an interview at 4 a.m.[11][12][38] The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that they "will raise Mr. Pavlou's claim that he was denied consular access before being released with UK authorities."[11][12] Alan Crockford, spokesman for the Metropolitan Police denied allegations of poor treatment during Pavlou's detainment, and asserted that the department abides to "strict codes of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act" for detainees.[39][38] British journalist and Liberal Democrat candidate Edward Lucas filed a corruption complaint with Metropolitan Police regarding Pavlou's alleged mistreatment and an investigation is underway.[40] Some human rights activists and politicians, also claimed of receiving emails from accounts that were pretending to be Pavlou. Pavlou claimed he was subjected to an "orchestrated campaign".[41]

Fine for placards in Brisbane

In October 2023, Pavlou was fined more than $3,000, after a protest he conducted against the Chinese consulate in Brisbane, during May 2022, was found to be unauthorised advertising. Pavlou had set up a desk and displayed placards in Queen Street Mall reading "Nothing happened on June 4, 1989. Change my mind" in reference to the Tiananmen Square massacre, with this form of protest being modelled on an internet meme. He refused to pack up the protest when a Brisbane City Council officer directed that he needed to do so, and at one stage held a placard close to the ground claiming that it would be read by ants. Pavlou pleaded not guilty to the charges of failing to obtain consent for a regulated activity and not complying with a direction to cease from an authorised person, with his lawyer arguing that his actions were permitted under the Queensland Human Rights Act.[42]

The magistrate who oversaw the trial, was presented an audio recording of the incident as well as the testimony of the council officer, and found that the Brisbane City Council had not restricted Pavlou's rights to freedom of speech, as he could have legally conducted his protest without a permit, if he had done so a short distance from the Queen Street Mall.[43][44] Pavlou was fined, but did not have a conviction recorded against him after his lawyer said that doing so would hinder his client's goal of starting a legal career.[42] Following the trial, Pavlou said he would appeal, and that he would never pay the fine to Brisbane City Council.[43]

Allegations of racism

Due to protesting against individuals perceived as connected to the Chinese Communist Party, Pavlou and his political party has been alleged as promoting anti-Chinese racism by some Asian Australians; a claim which he and his supporters have vehemently denied. His initial protests supporting the Hong Kong protests in 2019, raised concerns of potentially contributing to anti-Chinese sentiment. White Australians were reported as having shouted "Go back to China" and "Deport them, deport them" at counter-protestors, although many of the students aligned with Pavlou were ethnically Chinese or from Hong Kong themselves.[45]

Erin Wen Ai Chew, a representative of the Asian Australian Alliance, argued that "a lot of things he has done can encourage racism and promote the notion that people of Chinese background are disloyal unless we stand by his side." In response, Pavlou denied any racial prejudice and cited his connections to the Chinese dissident community, arguing that "It's not like I was out there attacking every single politician with Chinese ethnicity." Pavlou was defended by advocates of Tibetan and Uyghur independence, who praised him for deferring to the expertise of exiled voices, and for being an effective campaigner.[46]

Writing in Honi Soit, University of Sydney student Joshua Brannon acknowledged that "organising protests against undue CCP interference and Chinese human rights abuses is both commendable." However, Brannon argued that Pavlou's incendiary rhetoric echoed the colonial legacy of the Yellow Peril.[47] In a guest article for the Online Hate Prevention Institute, Dr. Gerald Roche of La Trobe University has alleged Pavlou of "attacking Chinese people on the basis of their nationality or ethnicity,"[48] citing online statements perceived as inflammatory. Pavlou has called such allegations a "horrific smear" and that he is "against the Chinese Communist Party, not the Chinese people or China as a country."[49]

Political career

In December 2021, Pavlou launched the Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance federal political party. He announced his intention to run for the Senate in Queensland, alongside five other candidates in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.[50] The party's policies include fighting corruption, protecting human rights (with an eye specifically on alleged issues related to the Chinese Communist Party), tackling poverty and homelessness, and building a green economy.[51][52]

The party contested the 2022 Australian federal election, with Pavlou running for the Australian Senate in his home state of Queensland. Pavlou campaigned against Liberal MP Gladys Liu.[53] The Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance received 2,215 first preference votes for the House of Representatives nationally and 4,555 first preference votes for the Senate (representing 0.15% of total votes cast) in Queensland, and did not win any seats.[54][55]

The party was voluntarily deregistered in November 2023.[56][57]

Brisbane billboard advertising controversy

On 14 December 2021, Pavlou released a recording of a telephone call between him and a representative of Bishopp Outdoor Advertising, which owns more than 700 billboards across Queensland. Pavlou states that billboard companies are unwilling to run ads in Australia critical of China.[58][59]

References

  1. ^ a b Stone, Lucy (10 August 2020). "Drew Pavlou's case against Chinese diplomat dismissed in court". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Duffy, Connor (2 June 2020). "Anti-China University of Queensland student Drew Pavlou caught up in 'kangaroo court', lawyer claims in 16-page appeal". ABC News. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  3. ^ Patrick, Aaron (26 May 2020). "University risks making Drew Pavlou a free speech martyr". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ Patrick, A. Odysseus (16 April 2020). "Student known as vocal critic of China faces expulsion from Australian university". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  5. ^ Condon, Matthew (29 May 2020). "How Drew Pavlou's University of Queensland protest enraged China and started a free speech battle". The Australian. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b Lynch, Lydia (3 June 2020). "Kevin Rudd accuses UQ of appearing to 'bend the knee to Beijing'". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b Garcia, Jocelyn (25 April 2020). "Student Activist Warns of Chilling Effect After China's Patriotic Media Singles Him Out". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Queensland student Drew Pavlou's suspension reduced but will remain out of university until 2021". The Guardian. 12 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d "Student disciplinary matters". UQ News. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Drew Pavlou suspended by University of Queensland over pro-Hong Kong protest". The Australian. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d Doherty, Ben (23 July 2022). "Australian activist Drew Pavlou arrested in London but denies sending Chinese embassy bomb threat". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d McCann, Conor (23 July 2022). "Australian activist detained in London over alleged bomb threat email sent to Chinese embassy". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  13. ^ Pavlou, Drew [@DrewPavlou] (1 June 2020). "I was born on June 4th, 1999, exactly ten years to the day of Tiananmen. I'll be turning 21 this Thursday. I hope my Brisbane friends will join me at the Tiananmen Square Memorial Vigil at UQ. It would mean a lot to me" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ a b Antonopoulos, Paul (17 April 2020). "Greek-Australian Student Faces Expulsion From University Of Queensland For China Criticisms". Greek City Times. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020. Greek-Australian student, Drew Pavlou, is facing a University of Queensland disciplinary hearing on April 27, where university administrators will likely expel the philosophy student....The student also revealed to Greek City Times that his family hailed from Larnaca in Cyprus' south coast and that he had revolutionary heritage with his grandmother's brother becoming a martyr as an EOKA fighter against British occupation. With a martyr in his family, it can be seen why he feels passionate to ardently defend a cause he believes in.
  15. ^ Condon, Matthew (30 May 2020). "The boy who kicked the hornet's nest". The Australian. Drew's paternal grandparents migrated in the 1960s and carried the surname Themistocles to Australia before changing it to Pavlou. A proud Greek Cypriot family used to hard work and enterprise, they soon made their way, starting fruit-and-veg shops, hairdressing salons and a restaurant on the Gold Coast, where Drew was born to father Nick and mother Vanessa in 1999.
  16. ^ Condon, Matthew (30 May 2020). "The boy who kicked the hornet's nest". The Australian. Retrieved 2 September 2020.(subscription required)
  17. ^ Pavlou, Drew [@DrewPavlou] (26 January 2024). "I feel despair this Australia Day" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Haupt, Epiphanie (Pippa) (7 May 2020). "FEATURE: Drew Pavlou – Kicking Shins During COVID-19". Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Drew is 20, a Brisbane native, and is completing his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.
  19. ^ Roberts, George (10 August 2020). "University of Queensland holds hearing behind closed doors to consider expulsion of student involved in China protest actions". ABC News. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  20. ^ Doherty, Ben (23 October 2019). "Queensland student sues Chinese consul general, alleging he incited death threats". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  21. ^ Bengali, Shashank (21 December 2020). "An Australian student denounced his university's ties to China. Then he became a target". LA Times. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  22. ^ Doherty, Ben (23 October 2019). "Queensland student sues Chinese consul general, alleging he incited death threats". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  23. ^ Xiao, Bang (24 April 2020). "Why an Australian student who is anti-Beijing is facing expulsion from the University of Queensland". ABC News. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  24. ^ Armbruster, Stefan (20 May 2020). "Student activist walks out of University of Queensland disciplinary hearing claiming China influence". SBS World News. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  25. ^ Swanston, Tim (29 May 2020). "Drew Pavlou, critic of University of Queensland's links to Chinese Government bodies, suspended for two years". ABC News. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  26. ^ Pavlou, Drew (29 May 2020). "@DrewPavlou on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  27. ^ Dennien, Matt (3 September 2020). "Corruption watchdog rules out student's UQ probe". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  28. ^ "'World's most famous undergraduate' returns to study but vows to keep up human rights' work". Neos Kosmos. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Suspended student Drew Pavlou sues University of Queensland heads for $3.5m for defamation, breach of contract". ABC News. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  30. ^ Pavlou, Drew [@DrewPavlou] (11 June 2020). "Today, I launched a lawsuit against UQ, Chancellor Peter Varghese and Vice Chancellor Peter Høj for $3.5 million, seeking damages for breach of contract, negligence, defamation, deceit and conspiracy. It's not about money, it's about sending a message – a message they understand" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 September 2020 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ Duffin, Peter (13 March 2022). "Fornication translation sees charge dropped against anti-China protester". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  32. ^ Visentin, Lisa (24 November 2022). "Police won't say why they asked this anti-Beijing activist to leave Parliament House". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  33. ^ Samson, Carl (2 May 2022). "Sydney activist sparks outrage over 'F*ck Xi Jinping' sign in Asian market". Nextshark. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  34. ^ a b Gaydos, Ryan (10 July 2022). "Wimbledon 2022: Peng Shuai supporter wrestled to the ground after shouting during match". Fox News.
  35. ^ Pavlou, Drew [@DrewPavlou] (10 July 2022). "Wimbledon security crash tackled me over a row of seats for trying to silently hold up a #WhereIsPengShuai sign. Security guard in the floral blue shirt then pushed me head first down the stairs and smashed my head into a wall while twisting my arms behind my back" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 July 2022 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ Wilson, Jeremy (10 July 2022). "Peng Shuai protestor 'thrown down stairs' after being removed from Wimbledon Centre Court". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 July 2022. (subscription required)
  37. ^ "Aussie human rights activist interrupts Wimbledon". Midwest Times. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Australian China critic detained in UK over alleged bomb threat". ABC News. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  39. ^ "London police respond after arresting Australian activist over alleged Chinese embassy bomb threat". SBS News. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  40. ^ Lucas, Edward (10 February 2023). "China's Eyes on the West Involve A Lot More Than Hot Air". LA Times. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  41. ^ "Drew Pavlou says he is victim of 'orchestrated campaign' after arrest over false 'bomb threat'". The Guardian. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  42. ^ a b Martinich, Rex (3 October 2023). "Activist fined for anti-China placards deemed 'adverts'". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  43. ^ a b Sato, Kenji (3 October 2023). "'Smart alec' activist fails in bid to overturn fines for sign mocking Chinese Communist Party". ABC News. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  44. ^ Martinich, Rex (3 October 2023). "Pavlou fined over 'smart alec response to a reasonable request'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  45. ^ Cave, Damien (30 July 2019). "Chinese Nationalists Bring Threat of Violence to Australia Universities". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 December 2023. Priya De, 22, a leader with the socialist group that connected Mr. Yiu and Mr. Pavlou, said she heard white Australians shouting "Go back to China" at the Chinese students, and "Deport them, deport them."
  46. ^ Knott, Matthew (14 July 2023). "Activist or attention hog? Drew has an obsession. His dad wishes he'd drop it". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  47. ^ "Maintaining the high ground: What Drew Pavlou can tell us about Australia's attitudes to the CCP". Honi Soit. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  48. ^ "Academic Freedom, Criticism of China and Racism - Online Hate Prevention Institute". ohpi.org.au. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  49. ^ Nilsson, Anton (3 May 2023). "NSW Police investigating officer for alleged false quotes in activist's case". Crikey. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  50. ^ "Who are my candidates?". aec.gov.au. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  51. ^ Antrobus, Blake (15 December 2021). "Outspoken student CCP critic Drew Pavlou debuts political party aiming for federal, senate seats". News.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  52. ^ "Home". drewpavlou.com.
  53. ^ McCubbing, Gus (4 May 2022). "Signs election contest for Chisholm has turned nasty". Australian Financial Review.
  54. ^ "First preferences by party". Australian Electoral Commission. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  55. ^ "First preferences by Senate group". Australian Electoral Commission. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  56. ^ "Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance Voluntary Deregistration" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission.
  57. ^ @DrewPavlou (7 November 2023). "The end of Democratic Alliance" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  58. ^ Everington, Keoni (14 December 2021). "Audio reveals why activist is banned from posting anti-CCP billboards in Australia". Taiwan News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  59. ^ "'Terrifying': Senate candidate's billboards banned for fear of retaliation by CCP". Sky News Australia. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
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