Tiananmen Square Anniversary: A grim reminder of Chinese brutality
- In Foreign Policy
- 06:50 PM, Jun 04, 2020
- Ranabir Bhattacharyya
China and Democracy are two words which signify a wide contrast depicting reality. There are ample instances in the history of the world testifying such autocracy and suppression of human rights. The 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests, rather the June 4th incident in mainland China is a living testimony to that. As the whole world is witnessing the COVID-19 surge, which has temporarily crippled the global economy with a massive healthcare crisis, China is facing criticism from all corners for concealing details regarding the deadly Coronavirus in the early phase. Every reminder to the Tiananmen Square incident is a tribute to the brave Chinese people, who have been fighting for human rights, democracy and transparent society. The atrocities on the students at Tiananmen Square by the People's Liberation Army under the watchful eyes of the Chinese Community Party (CCP) on June 4, 1989, can never be forgotten.
What happened on June 4, 1989?
In 1989, when the Chinese reformist leader Hu Yaobong died, more than hundreds of students marched to the Tiananmen Square. The students who were calling for greater freedom of speech laid a wreath at the monument to the People's Revolutionary Heroes. No doubt, the ruling Communist Party considered it as a threat to their existence. On May 13, hundreds of students began their hunger strike at Tiananmen Square. On June 4, the Chinese troops came forward with a two-pronged attack from the East and the West of Beijing. The student protestors were beaten up mercilessly by the soldiers. Not only had they tanks but also machine guns, assault rifles and APCs. What happened thereafter has been written in blood in Chinese history.
Do you remember the Tank Man?
On June 5, an unidentified young man stood in front of a tank convoy leaving the Tiananmen Square. The man climbed up onto the turret of the tank to speak to the soldiers. It is not known whether he was killed or spared by the men in uniform. The picture of the 'Tank Man' became one of the most iconic photographs in the last century.
There is no denying the fact that the bloody crackdown on the young protestors shaped the Chinese Government for decades. It has been 31 years since the fateful day, the total number of missing or dead protestors at Tiananmen Square is still unknown. No doubt, the protests in Tiananmen Square have inspired the oppressed in various countries. Hong Kong is a classic example, fighting for rights with immense courage and tenacity.
All these years, the Communist Government in China has tried to erase the truth regarding the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. For Hong Kong, the incident rekindled hope for political freedom within the clutches of the semi-autonomous rule it enjoys. China has already threatened to impose a national security law on Hong Kong and put an end to anti-government unrest. The 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square had an impact on Hong Kong politics as well. There is definitely a possibility of a renewed exodus from Hong Kong in case China resorts to violent crackdown on the protestors like that of the Tiananmen Square.
No wonder, China has no moral right to talk on human rights and democracy. No matter how strong China is with regard to manpower and military force, the basic regard for democracy, human rights have always been done away with degrading human dignity. The world will never believe any made up stories on the Corona crisis by the Chinese Government because trust comes from history and the Tiananmen Square episode exposes the negative dimensions of the Chinese government. Credibility is difficult to earn but easy to lose.
Image Credits: The Independent (www.independent.co.uk)
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