June 4, Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Yesterday night I went to Victoria Park with D and H to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the June 4 Tiananmen Square Massacre. The last time I was physically present at an anniversary vigil was in 1999, when it was the 10th year anniversary. Hard to believe it's already been seven years.
I arrived Victoria Park at 7:59 p.m.; it was already filled with four soccer fields full of people. I think I ended up in either the fifth or the sixth soccer field. I'm not sure.
We lit candles, we raised them high and swayed them around, we held several moments of silence, we listened to a heartfelt letter written by a "Tiananmen Mother," we sang, we opened our umbrellas when it rained for about a minute, we closed them up, we shared fires with each other when our candles were extinguished by the wind.
Picture of a guy I was sitting behind. A lot of people interviewed him because of his decorated appearance.
Organizers and news sources estimated about 44,000 in attendance. A thousand less from last year, but Dad the Math and Statistic Professor said it's normal for numbers to decline until the next big year (the 20th anniversary).
Significance of June 4 Commemoration
So what's the point of observing something 17 years later, calling for justice when justice doesn't seem to be coming any time soon? Certainly to keep pressing for justice to finally be served. But in my case, it's not necessarily a mere reevaluation of history by the Chinese government from a non-authoritarian perspective that I want; honestly, that will do little good beyond bringing vindication to the families of those who were killed or injured in 1989 (which is very important in and of itself).
I was at the vigil because I'm seeing over and over again how history is repeating itself with a Chinese government that's not doing anything to bring about the so-called democracy and human rights that it has promised to the world. In this sense, the Tiananmen Square Massacre is still very much a present phenomenon-the underlying issues that sparked the incident and led to, imho, an entirely unsatisfying response by the government in 1989 still remain.
Basic Democratic Rights
♦ Freedom of assembly
Seventeen years later, Hong Kong is still the only place within China where a large-scale protest-or any protest other than some form of personal civil disobedience or underground vigil-commemorating June 4th can be openly held. The vigil last night was as much a cry for democracy, for simple rights such as peaceable assembly and the freedom to hold one's own opinion, as it was a mourning for its lack back in 1989.
♦ Universal suffrage
There is no direct elections in Hong Kong beyond voting for local representatives at the bottom rung of the political ladder when viewed vis-à-vis the overall Chinese political structure of which Hong Kong is a part. Last year, an experimental direct voting initiative was held for two referendum items. Turnout was low, but at the same time, people expressed their opinions by voting down both items on the ballot. In the upcoming March 2007 election, only 800 people will be elgible voters for the chief governmental workers election. There are 7 million people in Hong Kong.
China cannot pay lip service to democracy on one hand and tighten the grip on officer appointments "elections" on the other. If the Chinese government truly believes Hong Kongers are on board with making the city prosper within a SAR government-Chinese political headquarters partnership-as much as leading political figures say so-then it should be confident that popular elections would reflect such a sentiment. As it is, refusal for universal suffrage is a reflection of China's fear that, if given the choice, people just might opt for a democratic political structure. How can the government affirm democracy and China's progress towards it when it is clearly afraid of democracy, as shown back in 1989 and in the present day situation of Hong Kongers' lack of voting rights? The two-face manipulation must end.
♦ Multiparty governance
Right now, the Chinese government runs on a pretty much one-party system. Under such a system, it can’t possibly accomplish all its promises of democracy to the international community. There’s a need for a multiparty system if leaders are to be checked and their powers balanced. One of the demands at the vigil was for China to end its one-party rule. At the least, to not interfere with the promised 50-year “one country, two systems” autonomous local government in Hong Kong.
♦ Freedom of the press
From Reporters Without Borders: Arrests of journalists, particular Chinese contributors to foreign media, continued in 2005…. As of 1st January, 2006, at least 32 journalists were in prison throughout the country.
Ching Cheong, a Hong Kong journalist for the Singapore Straits Times, was arrested last year after he was tricked into going into mainland China to obtain a manuscript of former Chinese leader Zong. At the time of his arrest, no reason was provided and he was given absolutely no recourse. International pressure eventually forced the Chinese government to charge him with "espionage," but has still to be brought to trial.
Cheong's is only one example among many, and freedom of the press invariably touches on the subject of human rights. IFEX Canada published a press release last month with more information: After pledging press freedom for Olympics, China falls short, warns CPJ.
I’m not sure when will be the next time I’ll be in Hong Kong on June 4. But as long as there’s a need for Hong Kongers to gather to voice their grievances, I’ll be with the demonstrators in spirit.
Some news links:
Ming Pao: 六四「未解決」: 4.4萬人燭海呼平反
The Standard: Tens of thousands at vigil
Financial Timesm, UK: Thousands gather to mark Tiananmen massacre
MSNBC: Thousands mourn Tiananmen 17th anniversary: Hong Kong demonstrators mark crushing of 1989 student protests in China-it has some pretty comprehensive description of the vigil's happenings
Epoch Times: 美各地民運人士各種方式悼念六四-a look into June 4 vigils in America
I arrived Victoria Park at 7:59 p.m.; it was already filled with four soccer fields full of people. I think I ended up in either the fifth or the sixth soccer field. I'm not sure.
We lit candles, we raised them high and swayed them around, we held several moments of silence, we listened to a heartfelt letter written by a "Tiananmen Mother," we sang, we opened our umbrellas when it rained for about a minute, we closed them up, we shared fires with each other when our candles were extinguished by the wind.
Picture of a guy I was sitting behind. A lot of people interviewed him because of his decorated appearance.
Organizers and news sources estimated about 44,000 in attendance. A thousand less from last year, but Dad the Math and Statistic Professor said it's normal for numbers to decline until the next big year (the 20th anniversary).
Significance of June 4 Commemoration
So what's the point of observing something 17 years later, calling for justice when justice doesn't seem to be coming any time soon? Certainly to keep pressing for justice to finally be served. But in my case, it's not necessarily a mere reevaluation of history by the Chinese government from a non-authoritarian perspective that I want; honestly, that will do little good beyond bringing vindication to the families of those who were killed or injured in 1989 (which is very important in and of itself).
I was at the vigil because I'm seeing over and over again how history is repeating itself with a Chinese government that's not doing anything to bring about the so-called democracy and human rights that it has promised to the world. In this sense, the Tiananmen Square Massacre is still very much a present phenomenon-the underlying issues that sparked the incident and led to, imho, an entirely unsatisfying response by the government in 1989 still remain.
Basic Democratic Rights
♦ Freedom of assembly
Seventeen years later, Hong Kong is still the only place within China where a large-scale protest-or any protest other than some form of personal civil disobedience or underground vigil-commemorating June 4th can be openly held. The vigil last night was as much a cry for democracy, for simple rights such as peaceable assembly and the freedom to hold one's own opinion, as it was a mourning for its lack back in 1989.
♦ Universal suffrage
There is no direct elections in Hong Kong beyond voting for local representatives at the bottom rung of the political ladder when viewed vis-à-vis the overall Chinese political structure of which Hong Kong is a part. Last year, an experimental direct voting initiative was held for two referendum items. Turnout was low, but at the same time, people expressed their opinions by voting down both items on the ballot. In the upcoming March 2007 election, only 800 people will be elgible voters for the chief governmental workers election. There are 7 million people in Hong Kong.
China cannot pay lip service to democracy on one hand and tighten the grip on officer appointments "elections" on the other. If the Chinese government truly believes Hong Kongers are on board with making the city prosper within a SAR government-Chinese political headquarters partnership-as much as leading political figures say so-then it should be confident that popular elections would reflect such a sentiment. As it is, refusal for universal suffrage is a reflection of China's fear that, if given the choice, people just might opt for a democratic political structure. How can the government affirm democracy and China's progress towards it when it is clearly afraid of democracy, as shown back in 1989 and in the present day situation of Hong Kongers' lack of voting rights? The two-face manipulation must end.
♦ Multiparty governance
Right now, the Chinese government runs on a pretty much one-party system. Under such a system, it can’t possibly accomplish all its promises of democracy to the international community. There’s a need for a multiparty system if leaders are to be checked and their powers balanced. One of the demands at the vigil was for China to end its one-party rule. At the least, to not interfere with the promised 50-year “one country, two systems” autonomous local government in Hong Kong.
♦ Freedom of the press
From Reporters Without Borders: Arrests of journalists, particular Chinese contributors to foreign media, continued in 2005…. As of 1st January, 2006, at least 32 journalists were in prison throughout the country.
Ching Cheong, a Hong Kong journalist for the Singapore Straits Times, was arrested last year after he was tricked into going into mainland China to obtain a manuscript of former Chinese leader Zong. At the time of his arrest, no reason was provided and he was given absolutely no recourse. International pressure eventually forced the Chinese government to charge him with "espionage," but has still to be brought to trial.
Cheong's is only one example among many, and freedom of the press invariably touches on the subject of human rights. IFEX Canada published a press release last month with more information: After pledging press freedom for Olympics, China falls short, warns CPJ.
I’m not sure when will be the next time I’ll be in Hong Kong on June 4. But as long as there’s a need for Hong Kongers to gather to voice their grievances, I’ll be with the demonstrators in spirit.
Some news links:
Ming Pao: 六四「未解決」: 4.4萬人燭海呼平反
The Standard: Tens of thousands at vigil
Financial Timesm, UK: Thousands gather to mark Tiananmen massacre
MSNBC: Thousands mourn Tiananmen 17th anniversary: Hong Kong demonstrators mark crushing of 1989 student protests in China-it has some pretty comprehensive description of the vigil's happenings
Epoch Times: 美各地民運人士各種方式悼念六四-a look into June 4 vigils in America