China: Address Tiananmen Massacre 36 Years On
Activists and Diaspora Keep Memory Alive, Press for Democratic Rule
(New York) – Thirty-six years after the killing of countless peaceful pro-democracy protesters in Beijing, the Chinese government still seeks to erase the memory of the June 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should cease censorship of the crackdown, allow commemorations, provide compensation to the victims’ families, and hold accountable officials responsible for abuses.
As in previous years, as the June 4 anniversary approaches, authorities across China are making a preemptive crackdown on commemorations, notably those by members of the Tiananmen Mothers, a group of relatives of Tiananmen Massacre victims.One prominent member, Zhang Xianling (张先玲), 87, told Radio Free Asia that even though she could barely “walk 200 meters without a wheelchair,” the authorities continue to subject her and others to strict surveillance and restrictions on her movement.
“The Chinese government has never owned up to the Tiananmen Massacre, much less provided redress for victims and their families,” said Yalkun Uluyol, China researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Beijing’s enforced amnesia has deepened authoritarian rule in China, yet it has not extinguished demands for the truth, democracy, and respect for human rights.”
The preemptive crackdown on Tiananmen Massacre commemorations is a stark reminder of China’s ongoing repression of dissent and its continued violations of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
