Remembering The Tiananmen Square Massacre

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, are believed to have died when the government sent in tanks and soldiers to clear Tiananmen Square on the night of June 3-4, 1989 Photo: AP

Tiananmen Square Quietly Remembered 23 Years Later -- ABC News

BEIJING – Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, but in China any mention of that day remains forbidden.

The Chinese government, which forbids any recognition of the massacre and the events leading up to it, has taken special measures in the last few days to further censor acknowledgement of the protests. Chinese micro-bloggers on the popular site Sina Weibo particularly felt the effects of censorship. Dissident posts were “harmonized” (removed) in minutes, profile pictures could not be changed, and the candle emoticon was removed.

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More News On Remembering The Tiananmen Square Massacre

China cracks down on Tiananmen anniversary -- AFP
China morning round-up: Tiananmen crackdown anniversary -- BBC
Tiananmen: Activists mark date that can't be mentioned -- CNN
China bans Tiananmen Square-related web search terms -- BBC
June 4 crackdown remembered in China stock index, or chance? -- Reuters
Odd twist in China stock index evokes crackdown -- AP
Ex-Beijing mayor backs away from long-standing account of Tiananmen crackdown -- Washington Post
US urges China to free remaining Tiananmen Square protesters on 23rd anniversary -- The Telegraph
US urges China to free Tiananmen Square activists -- BBC
Remembering the Tiananmen massacre -- Damian Grammaticas, BBC
Exclusive: Witness Recalls First Killing of the Tiananmen Square Massacre -- Epoch Times

My Comment: Regular readers of this blog know that I am a China watcher .... I have also been a regular visitor to China since the 1980s. When I was living in Fujian province during the summer of 1988, that was when I first had a sense that a Democracy movement was forming. I cannot describe properly the frustration that many young people were feeling at the time .... but the sentiment for change and a hope for a better future was there .... and it was intoxicating. My translator was a young Chinese university student who was majoring in English .... and it is she that I must give credit to for educating me on China and for introducing me to her professor .... an elderly gentleman but who was in every sense a true democrat and believer in freedom .... and who also described (and showed to me) a China that my Chinese government hosts were always careful to not show to me.

I had to visit China in April of 1989, and to be in Beijing for a few days. It was there that I saw the students on the streets and the movement taking shape in Tiananmen Square. I only stayed for a short time in the Square .... I had time constraints .... and .... I never like large crowds. I regret not taking a picture of what I was seeing .... but the memories and excitement will be something that I will always remember. Just picture this .... a young Russian national who had just became a Canadian citizen in a sea of Chinese students eager to talk to me and to express their gratitude that I was there. That I cared to show up. But truthfully .... I only showed up because I was curious .... not knowing that in 2 months the Chinese version of the Statue of Liberty on the Square will be crushed, and a sea of red blood will be everywhere.

And now it is 23 years later. Where did the time go? Where is China going now? What happened to all of those young and eager faces that I saw 23 years ago? What's next?

Yup .... today will be a heavy day of reflection.