BEIJING (AP) — Chinese police and paramilitary troops have been making sure today that there are no public commemorations of the events from 25 years ago. That’s when troops moved in on reform-minded protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds — if not thousands — or protesters and onlookers.
Police and troops today patrolled the square and the surrounding streets. They stopped vehicles, and demanded identification from passers-by.
Chinese censors removed comments about the crackdown from domestic blogs and social media websites.
Some relatives of the victims were allowed to pay their respects at cemeteries, but only with police escorts. Others did so at home, under surveillance, with guards standing watch outside.
The Chinese government has largely ignored the demands from relatives of the victims for an admission of wrongdoing, and a formal accounting of the crackdown and the number of casualties.
The silence on China’s mainland wasn’t matched in Hong Kong. Organizers say more than 180,000 people took part in an annual candlelight vigil to remember the victims.
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093-a-15-(Wu’er Kaixi, exiled student leader from 1989 protest, in AP interview Tuesday)-“next to me”-This exiled leader from the 1989 protest (Wu’er Kaixi) says he saw the results of the violence beyond Tiananmen Square. (4 Jun 2014)
< 094-a-12-(Wu’er Kaixi, exiled student leader from 1989 protest, in AP interview Tuesday)-“didn’t I die ((2nd reference))”-This exiled student protest leader (Wu’er Kaixi) says he has survivors guilt over the Tiananmen Square crackdown. (4 Jun 2014) < APPHOTO XKC107: Protesters attend a candlelight vigil at Victoria Park in Hong Kong Wednesday, June 4, 2014, to mark the 25th anniversary of the June 4th Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing. The banner reads “Exonerate the June 4, fight to the end.” (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (4 Jun 2014) < APPHOTO XAY105: A paramilitary policeman guards his position in front of cordoned-off Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. Heavy security blanketed central Beijing on the 25th anniversary of the bloody suppression of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests on Wednesday, pre-empting any attempts to publicly commemorate one of the darkest chapters in recent Chinese history. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan) (4 Jun 2014) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
