22nd anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Encyclopedia
The 22nd anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 (22周年六四遊行) saw more than 150,000 people gathering in Victoria Park
in Hong Kong
on 4 June 2011 evening to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
.
Restrictions are imposed annually on dissidents ahead of the anniversary to limit protests and demonstrations as it is a taboo subject in mainland China.
has publicly embraced the one country, two systems
model of governance for Hong Kong, the annual 4 June observance which has become a tradition since 1989 has continued after the transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China. It is the only place on Chinese soil where the event is openly commemorated in any way and on any scale.
There were a total of 53 arrests on charges of assaulting or obstructing police officers. The police have also complained about the citizens causing traffic jams and not obeying protest rules. In one case they found a police baton on a protester who is now suspected of theft.
In Taipei
hundreds of people urged the public to support the democracy movement in China and attended a vigil to mark the 22nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.
. The cables included communications from 3-4 June, 1989 between the United States and diplomats present for the events in and around Tiananmen Square. The leaks revealed, among other things, the eyewitness account of a Chilean
diplomat that there was actually no mass firing inside Tianamen Square in 1989. According to the cables, soldiers instead fired on protesters outside the center of Beijing.
Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Victoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on 4 June 2011 evening to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
.
Restrictions are imposed annually on dissidents ahead of the anniversary to limit protests and demonstrations as it is a taboo subject in mainland China.
Background
As the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
has publicly embraced the one country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
model of governance for Hong Kong, the annual 4 June observance which has become a tradition since 1989 has continued after the transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China. It is the only place on Chinese soil where the event is openly commemorated in any way and on any scale.
Events
On 30 May 2011, more than 1,000 marchers, organised by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, started a march from Victoria park carrying a replica of the Goddess of Democracy. Organizers of the events estimate that as many as 150,000 people gathered for the The Victoria park candlelight vigil Hong Kong police estimate there were 77,000 people. Legislator Lee Cheuk-yan have expressed dissatisfaction with the police who had cut off lines, closed off subway exits and blocked some entrances to Victoria park even before the event started. This redirection was purposely done before the parks were even full.There were a total of 53 arrests on charges of assaulting or obstructing police officers. The police have also complained about the citizens causing traffic jams and not obeying protest rules. In one case they found a police baton on a protester who is now suspected of theft.
In Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
hundreds of people urged the public to support the democracy movement in China and attended a vigil to mark the 22nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.
Domestic
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei reportedly said that the people have broad political rights and enjoy the best human rights conditions in the country's history.International
For the anniversary The Daily Telegraph released the Tiananmen cables sent to them by WikiLeaksWikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
. The cables included communications from 3-4 June, 1989 between the United States and diplomats present for the events in and around Tiananmen Square. The leaks revealed, among other things, the eyewitness account of a Chilean
Chilean people
Chilean people, or simply Chileans, are the native citizens and long-term immigrants of Chile. Chileans are mainly of Spanish and Amerindian descent, with small but significant traces of 19th and 20th century European immigrant origin...
diplomat that there was actually no mass firing inside Tianamen Square in 1989. According to the cables, soldiers instead fired on protesters outside the center of Beijing.
See also
- Memorials for the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989Memorials for the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989In the days following the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, many memorials and vigils were held around the world.-Hong Kong:Vindicate 4 June and Relay the Torch is an annual activity mourning the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 organised by Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic...
- 21st anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests of 198921st anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989The 21st anniversary Tiananmen square incident march began as a small march to commemorate the 4 June Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in Hong Kong...
- 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
- 2010 March for universal suffrage2010 March for universal suffrageThe 2010 March for universal suffrage was a march held in Hong Kong on May 2, 2010. The event occurred on the second day of the Shanghai 2010 expo. It came a day after the neighboring 2010 Macau labour protest.-Protest:...