Publicly commemorating the victims of 1989 is taboo in China. Criticism comes from neighboring Taiwan. Germany’s embassy in Beijing is also making a statement.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te remembered the victims of the 1989 democracy protests on Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square, which were bloodily suppressed, and criticized China’s handling of them. “A truly respectable country is one that allows its citizens to express their opinions,” he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. Every political power should have the courage to face the voice of the people, he said.
35 years ago, on the night of June 3rd to 4th, the People’s Liberation Army crushed weeks of peaceful protests against the government and for more democracy in Beijing. Hundreds of people were killed around Tiananmen Square. The subject is taboo in China. The memory of June 4th will not be lost in the stream of history and people will continue to work hard to preserve the memory, Lai wrote.
German Embassy sets an example
Taiwan’s China Affairs Administration (MAC) called on China’s government to have the courage to acknowledge the historical facts of June 4 and adopt a more open attitude toward other opinions.
On Tuesday night, the German embassy in Beijing showed a video of flickering candles in several windows on its building – a symbol of remembrance of June 4th that has been known for years. Human rights groups also criticized the commemoration. “The Chinese government has not yet taken responsibility for the human rights violations committed during the military operation,” said Jasna Causevic of the Society for Threatened Peoples.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
