REVOLUTION, FREEDOM AND SILENCE

Millie Bance (WHS)

15th April 1989, the liberal Communist Party leader, Hu Yaobang, passes away. Thousands gather from all across China in Tiananmen Square to mourn the death of their great leader. Some not only mourn, but also voice their discontent with the slow-paced political and economic reform that they had been promised. A peaceful protest begins, mainly involving students, asking for these changes. They had witnessed what China had experienced during its economic boom in the previous decade and become accustomed to a better standard of living after recent foreign influence. It had bought prosperity to many citizens, but unfortunately also created corruption within the Government. The student protesters in the mid-1980s, who wanted more individual freedom, caused members of the Chinese Communist Party to form a hatred of ‘资资资资资资资’, also known as ‘Bourgeois Liberalisation’. This idea was what kicked Hu Yaobang out of the CCP in 1987, just before his death.

At first, the government’s response to the protests was to go no further than issuing some harsh warnings. However, other demonstrations began cropping up all over China, in Shanghai, Xian and Chengdu.

Western journalists had gathered in Beijing, readying for the arrival of Mikhail Gorbachev, the USSR’s final leader. During his visit, it was the gathering of 1 million protesting citizens in Tiananmen Square that really captured the interest of those watching overseas. This caused havoc amongst the members of the CCP, some wanting to negotiate with the demonstrators and offer concessions, but others being insistent on not backing down and showing any sign of weakness.

Student protestors went to great lengths to fight for what they wanted and for what they believed would create a brighter future for China. Hundreds went on a hunger strike, some even passing out from exhaustion and the constant fight for freedom. Sadly soon after the strike had finished, the future began to look even more unstable. Martial law was declared in Beijing, bought in to put a stop to the unrest.

Troops tried to enter Tiananmen Square, but were blocked by the efforts of Chinese citizens, some flooding the streets and others creating blockages. The ‘Goddess of Democracy’ statue became a key landmark during the time of the incidents, which the students had built using papier mâché. By the time June came, there was only more fighting. Armed troops and military vehicles arrived in the city centre and cleared all citizens from the streets. They had opened fire on protestors and crushed crowds with their tanks. It was at this point when one of the most famous photos in the whole of human history was taken. Though morale was at an all-time low, one man whose name is still unknown, stood in front of a line of tanks and successfully blocked their path to the Square. This became a symbol of the fight between peaceful protestors and heavily armed military forces.

By the end of June, all hope for obtaining a meagre ounce more of freedom was lost. The Government had stated 241 civilians and soldiers had sadly been lost to the revolution, however the number is thought to be much larger, reaching potentially around 10,000. Thousands were hunted down and arrested afterwards, some of the student leaders going so far as to flee the country.

The ‘Tank Man’– by Widener, J. (1989)

A veil of secrecy was placed over the matter in the years following. Currently, the government still attempts to supress any public discussion of it and has banned all commemorations of the event. Hong Kong however, even after reverting to Chinese administration, continues to have an annual vigil for those lost in the right for freedom.

Bibliography

Unknown Author (2019). 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Amnesty International UK.

Pletcher, K. (2009). Tiananmen Square incident. Britannica.