To avoid disruptions to the Communist Party's showpiece political event, authorities nationwide were also stopping people from reaching Beijing to petition higher authorities over various grievances, a human rights group said.

"I am under tight police controls now. There are police stationed outside 24 hours and I can't go anywhere unless I travel in a police car," dissident Gao Hongming told AFP by phone from his Beijing home.

Gao, 58, a long-time advocate of greater democracy in China who has been jailed for his activism, was one of several dissidents who reported such curbs.

Several other well-known activists could not be reached.

The restrictions were implemented this week as China's communist rulers battened down the hatches in advance of the annual session of the National People's Congress, regarded as a rubber-stamp legislature, dissidents said.

"The police said it was due to the (congress) and that they would remain outside my home for the remainder of the session," dissident Jiang Qisheng told AFP.

The annual session ends on March 13.

Security is normally tight during the parliamentary proceedings but the atmosphere is especially tense this year amid mounting social tensions due to an economic slowdown that has thrown millions of people out of work.

June 4 will also be the 20th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square that left hundreds, if not thousands, dead.

Premier Wen delivered the opening address to the congress Thursday morning, pledging the government would be more open and hear the opinions of all citizens.

"We need to make government affairs more open and transparent. We will ensure the people's right to ... participate in, to express views on, and to oversee government affairs," he said.

But the Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a network of domestic and overseas activists, told AFP that harassment of activists and petitioners was being reported nationwide, with some being jailed.

"We have received dozens of reports from petitioners and activists that they are being monitored or warned not to go to Beijing," said Wang Songlian, Hong Kong-based research coordinator for the group.

Under a system dating from imperial times, Chinese citizens can seek the help of central authorities in Beijing over unsettled disputes or injustices, typically involving abuses by corrupt officials.

But there are regular reports of such petitioners being blocked by authorities from complaining to Beijing and even being detained and jailed.

Wen said the Communist Party wanted to ensure people could air their grievances.

"We need to pay special attention to safeguarding people's legitimate rights and interests, correctly handle problems among the people, properly deal with their complaints in a timely manner, and resolutely correct all actions that harm their interests," he said.

However, he also cautioned that the government would not tolerate anything that affected social stability.

"We will launch intensive campaigns to ensure public security and maintain law and order."

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