In September 2012 I walked part of the Great Wall of China for Dementia UK, Admiral Nurses. I wrote my memories of the adventure in an e-book 'Scaling the Dragon's Back.'
In order to boost fundraising this festive season my book is on 50% sale (at £2.50 less than the cost
of a high street cup of coffee).
All proceeds from books sold (after publisher fees)
will be donated to continue my support of Dementia care.
Wednesday June 4th is the 25th anniversary of the
military actions to quell the pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square, the symbolic home of the Chinese people.
Ironically, Tiananmen means ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace.
Ahead of the anniversary the Chinese government, who still censors any mention of the military action, is imposing strict controls in an attempt to prevent any mass gathering of people remembering those events 25 years ago.
During
the events of the so-called Beijing spring of 1989, Tiananmen became the focus for students
seeking greater political liberalisation. Students gathered in Tiananmen Square
following the death of the senior Communist Party official Hu Yoabang, who was
for the students a symbol of anti-corruption and political reform. The campaign followed Deng Xiaoping’s
economic reforms and the opening up of China to the west. Political reforms were to prove to be a step
too far for the regime. During the
course of their protest the students gained the support of tens of millions of
other citizens all over China in hundreds of cities demanding that the
government respond to the calls for political reform, a more open society, and the
expression of dissatisfaction with the government.
In
Tiananmen Square the ranks of protesters grew to include a cross section of
society, old people and children, doctors, teachers and even members of the
armed forces. The people had complaints
about inflation, salaries and housing. On
26th April the state-run newspaper the People’s Daily stated "… Its real aim is to reject the
Chinese Communist Party and the socialist system at the most fundamental
level." The
government was to decide on stability over reform and to retain the political
status quo. 160 students in Tiananmen
had begun a hunger strike in protest at the government’s failure to agree to
meet with them for discussions, this number was to grow to around 3,000.
The
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in Beijing on an official state visit
on 15th May. On route through
the streets of Beijing his car was frequently blocked on the streets by
protesters, because of the hunger strikers he was not able to be officially
welcomed in Tiananmen Square. This
represented a huge “loss of face” for the Chinese government who at first tried
to see out the hunger strikes. By now frustrated
with the lack of progress, martial law was declared, orders were issued to end
the hunger strike and force the students peaceably from the square. During the
evening of 3rd June and the early hours of 4th June there
were clashes between troops and students; loudspeaker announcements urged
students to leave the square immediately. In the book the Tiananmen Papers one of the
editors Andrew L Nathan writes “the
killings happened when inadequately trained troops went out of control.” A blood bath ensued. Gunfire was heard in the
streets of Beijing throughout the day of 4th June. Official government statistics say 241 people
died, including soldiers. Beijing Red
Cross estimated the number of dead at 2,600 and 7,000 wounded. The official government line was that
Tiananmen was a legitimate suppression of a violent anti-government riot.
It is said the majority of the population did
not support what happened in the Square but could not speak out for fear of
government reprisals.
Extracts taken from the ebook 'Scaling The Dragon's Back', sold in support of dementia care and available from:
Amazon for Kindle.
Available on Nook format from Barnes and Noble at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
For all other ebook formats from http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/
See reviews for 'Scaling The Dragon's Back' http://kephr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/reviews-for-scaling-dragons-back.html
My thoughts and impressions of Beijing http://kephr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/beguiled-and-bewildered-in-beijing.html
Amazon for Kindle.
Available on Nook format from Barnes and Noble at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
For all other ebook formats from http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/
My thoughts and impressions of Beijing http://kephr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/beguiled-and-bewildered-in-beijing.html
