MCLC: Tiananmen vigil in HK

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Tiananmen vigil in HK
Source: SCMP (6/4/18)
Tiananmen anniversary vigil in Hong Kong: event organiser Albert Ho gives eulogy declaring ‘ruthless regime will not last forever’
‘The wounds have not healed, the blood has not dried ... and justice has not been upheld,’ says chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China
By Tony Cheung Kimmy Chung
Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Victoria Park in Hong Kong to mark the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown with organisers of an annual candlelight vigil vowing not to stop calling for an end to one-party rule in mainland China.
The vigil is the only large-scale public gathering in China to remember the crackdown on June 4, 1989, that brought an abrupt end to a pro-democracy movement in the heart of Beijing. Many activists, including students and civilians, died. Though the death toll may never be known, hundreds, maybe more than 1,000, were killed.
While large crowds are still drawn to the event, attendance has dwindled in recent years. Organisers are estimating a turnout of 100,000 to 150,000 this time, despite a boycott by university student unions for the fourth year in a row. Follow the latest below:
8.50pm: Vigil is ‘encouraging for mainland Chinese’
In another video message, US-based democracy activist Wu Renhua, who witnessed the June 4 crackdown, said the candlelight vigil “is encouraging for mainland Chinese people”.
Wu said that since 1989, he had been collecting information on the crackdown.
“It has been difficult to research ... but we must record such a massacre, including information about the victims and culprits,” he said.
As the crowd joined the organisers in singing the song Blood-Stained Glory, the MC announced that all six football pitches in Victoria Park had been filled by participants.
8.36pm: Pre-recorded video address from Tiananmen Mothers group
After a minute’s silence for the victims, a pre-recorded video address of Di Mengqi was played.
Di, a 72-year-old member of the Tiananmen Mothers group, was the mother of Wang Hongqi, a 19-year-old man who was shot dead on his way home from work when the crackdown started on June 3, 1989.
Di demanded accountability for the killings.
“As a mother, I hope the state can step forward to clarify its stance on the massacre ... Who did my son offend on his way home from work? Shot dead for no reason! How can I swallow this!
“It was a criminal act by the state. We demand that the truth of the June 4 tragedy be revealed, compensation be paid to the victims’ families and legal accountability for those responsible for the massacre! We want our dignity back as human beings!” she said.
Di also thanked Hong Kong people for their support.
“Thanks to all who are at the vigil for your respect for life, you love for peace, and your belief against all kinds of killings,” she said.
8.30pm: Albert Ho says ‘ruthless regime will not last forever’
“The wounds have not healed, the blood has not dried ... and justice has not been upheld,” Albert Ho said, adding that authoritarian rulers wanted to erase the memory from the people.
“But more importantly, we are convinced that the ruthless regime will not last forever but will inevitably fall!” the chairman of the organiser said, to a round of applause.
“Despite a white terror falling over the land, the strong will of the people has remained indomitable and resistance has never ceased.
“In this evening’s vigil, we do not only participate in a ceremony, or cherish a feeling, but also reiterate our promise, perseverance and commitment to pass on [the victims’] unfulfilled dreams.”
The candlelight was not just to light up people’s conscience but also to radiate the truth of the crackdown, he added.
8.25pm: Flowers laid on replica of Beijing monument
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China’s leaders, including chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, carry a wreath from the stage to a replica of Tiananmen Square’s Monument to the People’s Heroes, set up about 100 metres away from the stage.
They then led the crowd in bowing three times to the monument.
In the torch-lighting ceremony, Albert Ho and two young members of the alliance carried a burning torch from the monument to light up another larger torch on the stage.
8.10pm: Vigil starts
The vigil starts with a four-minute video entitled “Hong Kong people’s June 4”, explaining the background of the 1989 pro-democracy movement, how it started in April and ended with a military crackdown in June. It also explained how China had remained undemocratic, despite economic progress throughout the 1990s.
Attendees stood with their candles aloft, forming the iconic scene of “the candle sea”.
As the rain has stopped, many people continue to enter the park, filling the sixth and last pitch as the ground dries.
8.05pm: Vigil about to start as crowd chant ‘end the dictatorship’
Thousands of people have now gathered at Victoria Park and many have lit their candles already. The MCs have said the vigil is going to start in 10 minutes. About 15 minutes earlier, they led the crowd to chant the slogan “end the dictatorship” twice.
The slogan courted controversy earlier this year after Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole delegate to China’s top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, warned those who chant “end the one-party dictatorship” risk being disqualified from public office in the future.
7.59pm: ‘Missing’ bookseller joins vigil
Lam Wing-kee, one of the Hong Kong booksellers who went missing in 2015, and eventually turned up in custody in mainland China, is at Victoria Park.
“It appears there are fewer people joining the vigil this year. I understand that some of them are frustrated, as they see no direction on how to proceed ahead,” Lam said.
“But we have to realise that only by understanding what’s going on in China – and why the dictatorship has remained in China for years – will we finally see the future direction.
“We would be fooling ourselves that we could cut ties with China.
“China is not only affecting Hong Kong and Taiwan but also the world. By reading more books on history, we would understand more and eventually forge a way out.”
7.30pm: Many come prepared for rain
More than a thousand people have filled the first football pitch and the crowd begins to spill over onto the second pitch. Many came prepared for the rain, bringing raincoats, small stools and plastic sheets to cover the wet floor.
Chinese University political scientist Ma Ngok is attending the vigil as he has done over the past years.
“I come every year as long as I am in town. It is an unfinished responsibility for myself,” Ma said.
The associate professor noted a sagging interest in the vigil and even politics among students.
Regarding those who said Hongkongers should better focus on the democracy movement in the city rather than mainland China, he said the two goals were not exclusive at all.
“If you cannot even afford one single night per year, how can you fight for democracy in the city?” he said.
Imprisoned in Beijing
Activist Zhang Fuying, 55, came all the way from his home in Liaoning province in northeastern China to participate in the vigil.
“I was imprisoned in Beijing in 2009 when I initiated an activity commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown. Since then, I have been imprisoned four times over different human rights movements.
“My wife is still in prison in Henan province as she fought against the government’s forced demolition of her home. She has been locked up since March 7. This is a brutal government with citizens living without freedom. But, someone has to stand up – if no one resists, all Chinese people will be locked up without freedom.
“I have come to Hong Kong every year since 2016. This would be unimaginable in mainland China as the soccer pitches would be filled with guards and policemen.
6.30pm: People get ready as the rain falls
It started to rain as hundreds of people entered Victoria Park via the entrances near Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations. The crowd scattered on two football pitches closest to the stage, with most people opening umbrellas or putting on ponchos.
One of them is Simon Choi, a 37-year-old sales and marketing professional who came with his wife and two daughters, aged six and three.
“I told my [elder] daughter that some very unpleasant things happened 29 years ago to some students advocating for a less corrupted government … I feel responsible, as a father, to tell my children what happened. I worry that she won’t be taught about this part of history in school,” Choi said.
On the stage, banners saying “Mourning June Fourth, Resist Authoritarianism” have been put up, while the organisers’ band has been rehearsing the pro-democracy songs that will be sung tonight.
5.30pm: Pro-Beijing groups accuse organisers of ‘scamming public’
A dozen protesters from two pro-Beijing groups set up outside Tin Hau MTR station to protest against the vigil.
The groups accused the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China of using the vigil to “scam” the public for money and said there was never a “massacre at Tiananmen Square”.
Voice of Loving Hong Kong convenor, Patrick Ko Tat-pun, said there was no transparency in the way the alliance used the donated funds.
“All the way [into the Victoria Park] they are asking for donations and they don’t say how they use the money,” Ko said.
One female onlooker said the groups were defaming the pro-democracy camp, to which a pro-Beijing group member said: “You’re not Chinese, don’t speak Chinese, shut up!”
‘Young are frustrated’
A 32-year-old attendee, Kevin Cheng, said young people could feel “frustrated” in the light of the recent incidents, such as the rulings in the Mong Kok riot case.
Cheng is physically disabled and works as a photographer.
“The past method of protesting was to attend rallies and go home, but now, the younger generation’s way to protest is to take action,” he said.
5pm: Organiser says ‘we must be fearless’
At a seminar organised in Victoria Park, the secretary of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Lee Cheuk-yan vowed to continue his calls for an end to one-party dictatorship in mainland China, despite the risk it poses to his potential bid for a Legco seat.
The alliance, which organises gatherings – including the June 4 vigil – has called for the release of dissidents and the “end of one-party dictatorship”.
“Resist authoritarianism” will be a key slogan at this year’s vigil, during which they will also pay tribute to dissident and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died in July last year.
Hong Kong pro-establishment politicians and former Beijing officials had earlier suggested those calling for an end to one-party rule could risk disqualification when running for election, after constitutional changes in mainland China affirmed the ruling Communist Party’s leadership.
“The so called red line is set to make us fearful. To fight against it we must be fearless,” Lee said. “The most important thing is that we do not uphold any self-censorship.
“It is my lifelong commitment to fight for justice and the labour movement. Election is our only means and we would not sacrifice our principles for it.”
Regarding young people’s fading interest in the vigil, Lee said the largest challenge was the cynicism and indifference towards society not whether the youth join the vigil or not.
[Portraits of persistence: the Hongkongers refusing to let memories of China’s 1989 Tiananmen crackdown die]
“Authoritarianism is coming to Hong Kong to suppress our freedom. We have to fight back,” he said.
Raphael Wong Ho-ming, 29, vice-chairman of the League of Social Democrats, reminded young Hongkongers they were still related to the victims of the crackdown.
“We live under the same authoritarian regime, no matter 29 years ago or the present,” he said.
The alliance’s vice-chairman Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong said: “The vigil with tens of thousands of people holding candles is the largest pressure exerted on Beijing. We should not belittle ourselves,” Tsoi said.
by denton.2 at osu.edu on June 4, 2018
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