ziasudra: (Default)
*dons memorial bracelet for Year 19*

From New York Times:
The Starting Line: The Tiananmen Square Protests, 19 Years later

ExpandArticle Excerpt: Today is the 19th anniversary... )

From Mingpao:
4.8萬六四燭光兩行淚 | 哀天災 悲人禍

Nineteen years is a long time, and with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last summer, the concept of nineteen years has developed new meaning. J.K. Rowling chose to give us a glimpse of how Harry & Co. are doing -- not twenty, not eighteen -- but nineteen years after the main events of the book took place. In those nineteen years, Harry and Ginny marry and have three kids; Ron and Hermione marry and have two kids; Draco marries and has at least one kid; Teddy Lupin -- the baby in the final chapters of Book 7 -- is now a strapping young man stealing kisses with Bill and Fleur's daughter, Victoire. And so the list goes on, with glimpses of future!Neville, Percy, Hagrid... etc., etc., etc.

Nineteen years meant stability and happiness for these fictional characters. But what does it mean for those who were affected by the Tiananmen Square Massacre that day? One hundred and thirty people are still imprisoned, student protesters are still exiled overseas (by choice or de facto), and for thousands of friends and relatives, today is the day they mourn the loss of loved ones for the twentieth time.

There might not be as many people attending the protest this year, but I'm still mindful of what today means, and send my thoughts from faraway New York City.

1989-2008
19 Years and counting
以史為鑑,平反六四

Year 18

Jun. 4th, 2007 08:56 pm
ziasudra: (Cat Reg)


Tiananmen Square, 1989

In the news:
1) 5.5萬燭光悼六四
2) 生於六四青年 維園度18歲生辰
ziasudra: (Default)
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).

ExpandSignificance of June 4 Commemoration )

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
ziasudra: (Default)

Photo taken by Associate Press in 1989
The Tiananmen Square Massacre
June 4, 1989


Background information here.

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the Chinese government's violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators at Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989—the culmination of a series of China's military crackdown on demonstrators, beginning with the declaration of martial law against protesters on May 20, 1989. The decision led to bloodshed, loss of lives, and international condemnation and a subsequent embargo on weapon sales to China.

After 16 years, the initial torrent and eventual ripple effect of the massacre have calmed. But the slogan of those who choose not to forget still rings strong: 「以史為鑑,平反六四」(using history as evidence to vindicate June 4).

ExpandRead more... )

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