By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA. June 4: The Students for Free Tibet (India) today organized an event marking the 27th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and to remember to the victims of the Chinese government’s crackdown on students.
The student group today organized a photo opportunity event for those extending their support with a poster of the ‘Tank Man’ as a background along with a light jam session.
“While the Chinese Communist Party still rules China, the Tiananmen square massacre left a mark on non-violent struggle in the world. As a Tibetan activist, I am inspired by the students who took to the street to challenge CCP in 1989,” said Tenzin Tselha, National Director of SFT (India).
She also added that Tibetans stand in solidarity with Chinese people who have resisted and those who continue to resist. “We believe that with continued non-violent resistance, freedom will be achieved.”
The Tiananmen Mothers group, an association of mothers who have lost their children during the massacre, said in their statement, “We use our immense maternal love to declare publicly to future generations. Do not succumb to brute force, confront all evil forces with courage, and justice will prevail. The June Fourth massacre will forever be etched into the history of the world and no amount of power can rub this out.”
The group also has expressed sorrow on behalf of the 41 deceased mothers who had passed away without seeing justice done. The statement signed by 131 mothers said that the 27 years were ‘years of white terror and suffocation.’
Reportedly, the Chinese government has enforced strict censorship on the Internet over anything related to the Tiananmen incident and has locked up activists to avoid any events during its anniversary.
On June 4, 1989, the Chinese army deployed tanks and used machine guns to clear out the peaceful protesters leaving thousands, mostly students, dead.
The Tiananmen protestors, who had occupied the Square for over a month, called for more liberal reforms on political and economical front, against political corruption, freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
