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Tiananmen square falls silent as tight security surrounds symbolic anniversary Beijing falls silent as tight security surrounds Tiananmen Square anniversary
(32 minutes later)
China was marking 30 years since its deadly crackdown on student demonstrators in Beijing with silence and extra security measures on Tuesday.China was marking 30 years since its deadly crackdown on student demonstrators in Beijing with silence and extra security measures on Tuesday.
The nation’s government has worked to suppress discussion of one of the darkest chapters in its history, when Beijing deployed tanks and troops to put down a countrywide movement calling for democratic reforms. In the lead up to the anniversary, activists have been detained and internet controls tightened. The nation’s government has worked to suppress discussion of one of the darkest chapters in its history, when Beijing deployed tanks and troops to put down a countrywide movement calling for democratic reforms.
On Tuesday, security forces were deployed throughout Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where on the evening of 3 June through the morning of 4 June, 1989, hundreds if not thousands of people were killed.On Tuesday, security forces were deployed throughout Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where on the evening of 3 June through the morning of 4 June, 1989, hundreds if not thousands of people were killed.
Crowds of tourists were waiting to pass through security to have their ID card scanned and bags checked. Plainclothes and uniformed police patrolled the perimeter of the area. An armoured police car was stationed along a street leading to the square. Asked about the extra checks, a police officer said: “Today is a bit special.”Crowds of tourists were waiting to pass through security to have their ID card scanned and bags checked. Plainclothes and uniformed police patrolled the perimeter of the area. An armoured police car was stationed along a street leading to the square. Asked about the extra checks, a police officer said: “Today is a bit special.”
Official media on Tuesday made no mention of the anniversary, instead featuring articles about Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s promotion of garbage sorting, an environmental campaign. Foreign journalists were not allowed to enter the square. Plainclothes police blocked reporters from taking photos by opening umbrellas in front of them.
China has issued few statements about the Tiananmen crackdown, which is largely omitted from history books. When pushed to comment, officials justify the government’s use of force as necessary for stability and development. Following a period of international isolation after the crackdown, the Chinese economy grew at breakneck speed in the 1990s and 2000s. China has issued few statements about the Tiananmen crackdown, which is largely omitted from history books. Official media on Tuesday made no mention of the anniversary, instead featuring articles about Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s promotion of garbage sorting, an environmental campaign and calls to “remember the mission” of the Chinese Communist party.
China’s defence minister, Wei Fenghe defended the crackdown as the “correct” policy to end “political turbulence” at the time in response to a reporter’s questions at a conference in Singapore on Sunday. In the spring of 1989, after years of increased openness on campuses, authorities were confronted with students movements across China, calling democratic reforms, individual freedoms, ending government corruption, and other demands.
After almost two months of protests and division within the senior leadership, officials decided to use force to clear the protests in Tiananmen Square, the centre of the movement. Estimates for the death toll range from a few hundreds to 3,000. A secret UK diplomatic cable released in 2017 put the figure at at least 10,000.
When pushed to comment, officials justify the government’s use of force as necessary for the country’s stability and development. The Chinese economy grew at breakneck speed in the 1990s and 2000s. China’s defence minister, Wei Fenghe on Sunday defended the crackdown as the “correct” policy to end “political turbulence” at the time.
'Sacred day': Chinese remember Tiananmen killings by fasting'Sacred day': Chinese remember Tiananmen killings by fasting
On Monday, the state-run tabloid Global Times praised the government’s response, calling it a “vaccination” for Chinese society providing “immunity against any major political turmoil in the future”.On Monday, the state-run tabloid Global Times praised the government’s response, calling it a “vaccination” for Chinese society providing “immunity against any major political turmoil in the future”.
Meanwhile foreign journalists were either not allowed to enter the square or were followed when they did. Plainclothes police blocked journalists from taking photos by opening umbrellas in front of them. Observers say the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown was a turning point for the country, marking the Chinese leadership bend towards authoritarianism. Under Xi, Chinese civil society has come under even tighter controls.
The search terms “Tiananmen” and “6,4 30,” were blocked on the microblog Weibo, and “6,4” as the episode is known in China turned up results like the address of a compound or a type of gun. Dozens of activists have been detained in the lead up to the anniversary and censorship appears to have ramped up. On Tuesday, the search terms “Tiananmen” and “6,4,30” in reference to the 30 year anniversary, were blocked on the microblog Weibo. On Wechat, users could not change their usernames.
In the weeks leading up to the anniversary, social media users were not allowed to change their usernames and a video platform disabled some of its comment functions. Activists in China said they planned to fast for the day, barred from being able to commemorate the event in any public way. Gao Yu, a journalist who attended the protests in Beijing has been “traveled” away from the city and will be kept under close watch today by security minders. “I can only remember [the students] in my heart,” she said.
Despite the censorship, some Chinese citizens have found ways to mark the day, by referring to it elliptically. One user posted a photo of himself standing in front of Mao Zedong’s portrait, which faces Tiananmen Square, in the early morning hours. “Paying respects,” he wrote. In neighbouring Hong Kong, activists are able to commemorate the event with an annual candlelight vigil attracting about 180,000 people.
Activists in China said they planned to fast for the day, barred from being able to commemorate the event in any public way. In neighbouring Hong Kong, activists are permitted to commemorate the event with an annual candlelight vigil attracting about 180,000 people. “The whole of China is silenced, and we have a window, or a loudspeaker for that in Hong Kong, to tell the world what happened,” said Chauk-Yan Lee, a former legislator who was in Beijing at the time of the crackdown.
“This year, with the 30th anniversary more people will be coming in,” said Chauk-Yan Lee, a former legislator. Lee was a young labour organiser in 1989 and was in Beijing on 4 June. “I heard the gunshots, and saw the tanks rolling in, the rickshaws taking injured people,” said Lee, who was a labour organiser in 1989. “The next day I went to the hospital. I saw bodies stacking up in side. It went from high hope to despair for me,” he said.
But activists are coming under pressure in Hong Kong. On Sunday, Hong Kong deported an exiled dissident and former Peking university student, Feng Congde, who had come to the city to attend the vigil. “When I came back from Beijing 20 years ago, people told me to make sure you tell the world the truth,” he said.
Hong Kong immigration is not required to give reasons for its decisions, but legislator Regina Ip told the Guardian she believes it was likely because Congde intended to go to the vigil. “Hong Kong allows our people to hold the annual June 4 candlelight vigils, they have a right to express their views, to remember whatever happened 30 years ago. But we don’t have to allow high profile dissidents to come in and stir up further emotions. What’s the point?” On Tuesday, activity around Tiananmen Square appeared normal. Tourists holding umbrellas to block the sun made their way to the main square, a historical site. Groups of students followed their teachers in neat lines. Souvenir shops were open, selling memorial plates featuring Mao Zedong’s face.
Gao Yu, a journalist who attended the protests in Beijing has been “traveled” away from the city and will be kept under close watch today by security minders. “I can only remember [the students] in my heart,” she said. Despite the censorship, some Chinese citizens have found ways to mark the day. One user posted a photo of himself standing in front of Mao Zedong’s portrait, which faces Tiananmen Square, in the early morning hours. “Tomb sweeping,” he wrote, a reference to a Chinese tradition of honouring the dead.
Other internet users posted a quote by a famous Chinese writer, Lu Xun, in 1933, remembering a group of young writers who had been killed by government forces. The night is long, the road is also long. It’s better I forget, not to mention it. But I know that even if it weren’t for me, there will always be someone who remembers them.” Other internet users posted an essay by famous Chinese writer, Lu Xun, in 1933, remembering a group of young writers and activists who had previously been killed by government forces. Users posted: “The night is long, the road is also long. It’s better I forget, not to mention it. But I know that even if it weren’t for me, there will always be someone who remembers them.”
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