Tiananmen Square remembered 25 years on

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 26^th 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 15^th 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 3^rd June and the early hours of 4^th 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 4^th 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/w/scaling-the-dragons-back-the-great-wall-treck-karen-patrick/1119808986?ean=2940149691784

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