Sixteen Years Already.
Today's band sound (in Mandarin): 6426. Lyrics.
Open this page in a new tab or new browser window to listen Hong Kong people talk about what '89 meant to them in between songs and soundbytes from '89. Also available in mp3 and real audio format. Coutersy Hi-radio.net, podcast station from Hong Kong.
Reuters: China keeps close watch on Tiananmen anniversary.
"Tight security blanketed China's capital on Saturday, 16th anniversary of the bloody crushing of the Tiananmen Square democracy movement, with the leadership alert for any protest that could threaten its grip on power.
Uniformed and plain clothes police fanned out around the square, and dissenters were kept under guard in their homes. This year's anniversary was made more sensitive by the death of Zhao Ziyang, a top leader ousted in 1989 for sympathizing with the student demonstrators.
Hundreds were killed on the night of June 3-4, 1989, when troops and tanks rolled into Beijing and, in the face of opposition from the city's residents, seized control of the square that had been occupied by student demonstrators."
Image of the day - my pick.
Glutter has another one in mind. But it's not "that one photo, the one everyone remembers, you know the one I am referring to, its lucid, calm symbolism etched into the minds of millions".
Rebecca Mackinnon has another very good one, reminds you why you should not forget June 4th 1989.
Reuters: Hong Kong remembers Tiananmen massacre
"Huddled under umbrellas, tens of thousands of people bowed and sang freedom songs in Hong Kong on Saturday to remember those killed in Beijing 16 years ago by Chinese troops as they crushed the Tiananmen Square uprising.
"Vindicate the 1989 democracy movement", "Release all political dissidents", "End one party rule," the crowd chanted at the annual rally in central Victoria Park in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Holding candles, the crowd raised a sea of umbrellas when a light drizzle began halfway through the event. Although families with young children started leaving when the rain got stronger, most chose to stay behind.
Organisers estimated a crowd of 45,000, or about half the turnout last year.
New York Times: "This year's vigil coincides with a furor over a secret book reportedly written by a retired Communist Party official, Zong Fengmin, based on conversations he had with Mr. Zhao. Mr. Zhao, now regarded sympathetically by many advocates of greater democracy in China, reportedly criticizes the crackdown in the book; he had already been known to be critical of other Chinese leaders' handling of events in 1989, however."
Excellent set of photos from the candle light vigil by Hong Kong Digital Vision.
Glutter has a few more. She put out a 62 inch by 26 inch banner and a series of political art T-Shirt she designed to provoke thoughts and conversations on a free and democractic Hong Kong. I supposed that's called installation art.
Deki has collected blog posts from the Hong Kong's blogosphere dedicated to this special day. It's a long list and it's growing.
From the pile, I discovered independent video & documentary maker, Aashun's post: "i asked myself, how should i reconsider this event? how this event works on me?" Read the entire piece. It's a good one.
Many more bloggers remember 16 years ago. Asiapundit brings all these voices dispersed from across the net into one place.
However, June 4 horror fades from young minds in Hong Kong.
"Many Hong Kong youngsters have no idea of the events leading up to the Tiananman Square massacre just 16 years after the horrific crackdown on students.
The brutal June 4, 1989 quelling of pro-democracy protests is seen as one of the most important incidents in contemporary Chinese history, but students say their families will not discuss the issue at home.
School is the only place they look to in order to understand more about the democratic movement on the mainland.
Secondary six student Yung Tsz-leung was shocked when he learned about the crackdown soon after enrolling in Christ College in Sha Tin five years ago. The school organizes memorial activities every year and teaches about the incident in history and civic education classes.
``I did not know about it. I was angered when I heard about it as the Chinese government was trying to hide the truth,'' said Yung. ``It seems ironic the Chinese government is asking other countries to respect history, but it is not doing the same.''
Schoolmate Yu Man-sang was also angered she had been kept in the dark. She said schools have a responsibility to discuss the incident with students.
``The authorities are giving a distorted picture. Students will not be able to think critically should we just believe in authority without further discussing it,'' she said.
While some in the community stress the importance of moving on from the massacre for social stability, a small group of schools and activists insist students must be allowed to discuss it.
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, Hong Kong Christian Institute and Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese have invited 400 schools for June 4 memorial activities. They said 13 schools have accepted, compared with only six last year.
``A teacher told me the political atmosphere of the community is constantly changing and there is more stress on social harmony,'' said Hong Kong Christian Institute project assistant Debby Chan. ``The teacher fears schools will not be allowed to host similar activities in the future and thinks this is the last chance.''
And in China, young people have a distorted view of what had really happened. That's even worst than ignorance and apathy. It's dangerous.
This site has a wealth of information, photo, text, video, soundbytes from 16 years ago.
