Friday, 05 June 2009 01:00 | and posted in Features
Yesterday marked the 20 year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, when Chinese military opened fire on a group of unarmed students. The protests were sparked by the death of a pro-democracy official Hu Yaobang in April 1989. Groups gathered to mourn his death and demonstrate for the things he had campaigned about - democracy and reform. The protests continued around central China for weeks, culminating in a large gathering of students and like-minded protesters in Tiananmen Square on the 3rd and 4th June.
The Chinese government reacted to the growing unrest by sending tanks and soldiers to Tiananmen Square, the main focus for the demonstrations. Citizens tried to block the approach of the army but to no avail. When they reached the square they opened fire on the unarmed students, haphazardly and ruthlessly. Students trying to escape or take refuge were shown no mercy. The leaders of the pro-democracy demonstrators called upon the students not to respond with violence and while students shouted to soldiers ‘why are you killing us?' the massacre continued. By 5.40 am on 4th June the Square lay deathly silent. The true number killed is not known but is thought to be in the hundreds, perhaps thousands, with thousands more injured.
Perhaps the most poignant image of the massacre is the heartrending photo, taken from a hotel window on the 5th June, depicting a young, unknown Chinese man carrying his shopping, standing defiant and unmoving in front of a line of approaching tanks. Video footage of the man shows him moving in front of the tanks as they attempt to drive around him. He then climbs onto the lead tank, banging on the roof. He was removed by Chinese police and never heard of again. To this day, however, he remains a symbol of defiant courage. Despite no-one even knowing his name he appeared in Time magazine's ‘Time 100: The Most Important People of the [20th] Century'.
It is 20 years since the massacre. Chinese officials have refused to have a review of the massacre. Discussion of it is banned in China with many unaware of the extent of the killing. Today, tanks surround the Square, foreign journalists are prevented from filming and reporting and the police presence is substantial.
Despite the government's refusal to deal with the issues that the massacre raised, it is unlikely that the students who died in Tiananmen Square, along with the iconic figure who faced down a line of tanks, will ever be forgotten.
