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The world will never forget the repression of China in 1989 against pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, the president of Taiwan and the best American diplomat declared on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of an event that Beijing deals with a taboo and allowed no public memory.
Events on and around the central square of Beijing on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire to end the pro-democracy demonstrations led by students, are not publicly discussed in China and the birthday is not officially marked.
Public commemorations take place in overseas cities, including Taipei, where the senior leaders of the Taiwan government often use the birthday to criticize China and exhort to face what it has done.
The president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-Te, in an article on Facebook on Wednesday, praised the courage of those who participated in the demonstrations, claiming that human rights are a concept shared by Taiwan and other democracies that transcend generations and borders.
“The commemoration of the incident of June 4 Tiananmen is not only to cry the story, but also to perpetuate this memory,” said Lai, whom Beijing hates like a “separatist” and rejected his repeated offers from talks.
“Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and to refuse to forget those who have given their lives – and their dreams – to the idea of human rights,” he added.
“Not only do we refuse to forget history, but we will implement our fundamental values every day.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the courage of the Chinese people who was killed in bloody repression on Tuesday.
“Today, we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed while they were trying to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to undergo persecution when they ask for responsibility and justice for the events of June 4, 1989,” Rubio said in a statement.
“The CCP is actively trying to censor the facts, but the world will never forget,” he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
Australia has marked the birthday by saying that Canberra remains determined to protect and support human rights, in particular freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of political participation.
“That day, we join the communities around the world to remember the losses of lives in Tiananmen on June 4, 1989,” said the Australia Consul General in Hong Kong and Macao, Gareth Williams, in an article on X.
Tightened security around the square and in Hong Kong
Before dawn on June 4, 1989, Chinese tanks took place on Tiananmen square, crushing weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers.
China has never given a total number of deaths, but rights defense groups and witnesses say that the figure could reach thousands. China blamed the demonstrations of counter-revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the Communist Party in power.
Safety around the square was tightened Tuesday with an increased police presence. The police set up several checkpoints for identification controls for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, and also prevented people from taking photos near the place.
There was no discussion on the historic event on Chinese social media, which are strongly censored by the authorities.
Tiananmen mothers, who represent parents of those who killed, published their annual declaration calling for public accounting this week.
“This year’s executioners died one after the other, but as a continuation of the ruling party, the current government is responsible for responding and responding to the Tiananmen massacre,” said Zhang Xianling, whose son Wang Nan was killed, in a video message.
In Hong Kong, where thousands of people gathered to mark the birthday before China’s taxation of a national security law in 2020, security was tight around Victoria Park, the site of the previous watch with mass candles.
Hong Kong chief John Lee said on Tuesday that police would take strict implementing measures against any act endangering national security. An artist of performance was forced to leave the surroundings of the park and a store selling small white candles was attacked by customs officers on Tuesday.
A imprisoned pro-democracy activist, Chow Hang Hang-Tung is organizing a 36-hour hunger strike in prison to mark the birthday.
