HRIC Weekly Brief: June Fourth Edition
June 4, 2024
Top News 头条
Today is June Fourth, the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. This morning, HRIC’s Zhou Fengsuo, Professor Rowena He, and two student activists testified before congress on the panel “Tiananmen at 35—the Ongoing Struggle for Human Rights and Democracy in China.” In honor of the anniversary, HRIC has translated and published a statement from the Tiananmen Mothers and produced a video. HRIC also issued a joint statement on behalf of 46 human rights organizations.
Coinciding with the anniversary, the Hong Kong authorities targeted those commemorating the massacre, including the arrest of eight individuals under the new Article 23 national security law. The verdict in the high-profile 47 Democrats case was also released, finding 14 of 16 activists guilty. Despite the risks, some Hong Kongers still held commemoration activities, and diaspora groups around the world rallied to keep the memory alive.
In light of these developments, this week’s brief will focus on news around the 1989 democracy movement anniversary as well as events in Hong Kong.
1989 Tiananmen Massacre 35th Anniversary - 1989年六四惨案35周年祭
Echoes of the 1989 Student Movement: Translated Poems: This month, HRIC has posted a daily translated poem associated with the 1989 democracy movement. HRIC hopes that sharing these poems will help readers today understand the thoughts and dreams of those protestors at Tiananmen Square, and inspire us to continue fighting for freedom and human rights.
35 Years After Tiananmen, China’s Conduct Again Triggers Alarm: “Despite authorities’ best efforts to erase the memory of Tiananmen, it is echoed in episodes of defiance,” HRIC’s Zhou Fengsuo told the Wall Street Journal.
The Legacy of Tiananmen Square: 35 Years of Silence and Censorship: In this podcast by Article 19, HRIC’s Zhou Fengsuo discusses his experiences at Tiananmen Square and the ongoing legacy of the crackdown.
New York museum ‘keeps memories alive’ 35 years after Tiananmen crackdown: After the June Fourth museum in Hong Kong was forcibly closed by authorities in 2021, the June 4th Memorial Museum in New York City was opened a year ago by HRIC Executive Director Zhou Fengsuo and a few other veterans of the Tiananmen demonstrations now living in the United States.
Radio Free Asia on Twitter/X: Members of the Tiananmen Mothers went to Beijing Wan'an Cemetery to pay their respects and reiterate their three demands of “truth, reparations, and accountability.”
The forgotten victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre: After June Fourth, a nationwide program of prison sentences and other forms of official retaliation was quietly meted out to possibly thousands who participated in the protests. Many are unknown to the public, yet face the repercussions even today.
Don’t talk to media, Tiananmen massacre families warned ahead of June 4 anniversary: As part of “stability maintenance” measures, relatives of Tiananmen victims have been told not to talk to the press. Activists and affiliated individuals have been prevented from gathering, and some have been taken on enforced “vacations” out of Beijing by state security services.
Related: China and Hong Kong reportedly detain dissidents before Tiananmen Square anniversary.
Tiananmen massacre play premieres in London for 35th anniversary: A play about a bereaved family, now banned in Hong Kong, was translated into English and played in London.
华盛顿集会纪念六四35周年 前学运领袖周锋锁看到传承希望 [Washington rally commemorates 35th anniversary of June 4th: Former student movement leader Zhou Fengsuo sees hope for passing the torch]: In Washington DC, more than 200 people gathered for a candlelight vigil to commemorate June Fourth. HRIC’s Zhou Fengsuo: “The commemorations outside [China] are much louder than before, and it is gratifying and especially important that many are organized independently by young people from China, which gives us great hope.”
伦敦纪念六四“被删除的记忆”展览：幸存者们作证，珍贵文物展出 [London commemorates June 4th "Censored Memories" exhibition: survivors testify, precious cultural relics are on display]: The “Censored Memories” exhibit at St. John’s Waterloo, London, commemorates the student protestors and displays key artifacts and artwork around the Tiananmen protests. The exhibit is on display until June 12.
六四卅五｜英國多地舉行悼念活動 聲援鄒幸彤籲釋放政治犯 [June 4 35th Anniversary | Memorial events were held in many places in the UK to support Chow Hangtung and call for the release of political prisoners] : In the UK, diaspora communities rallied to commemorate the anniversary. Zhou Fengsuo attended a rally in London put on by China Deviants and Amnesty International.
Human Rights in China on Twitter/X: Zhou Fengsuo spoke at the University of London last week, in one event of many held by students around the world to commemorate June Fourth.
Human Rights on China on Twitter/X: The Tiananmen Gate Tower in Beijing announced that it would be closed all day on June Fourth.
Hong Kong 香港
47 international parliamentarians and public figures condemn verdict in the trial of 47 democrats in Hong Kong: An international coalition has released a statement condemning the guilty verdict of 14 activists for “conspiracy to commit subversion.”
Hong Kong justice dept. to launch appeal bid against 2 democrats cleared of subversion charge: The Hong Kong government plans to appeal the two out of 16 not guilty verdicts in the 47 Democrats case.
Hong Kong battles over the memory of June 4, the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre: Chow Hang-tung and several of her supporters have been arrested for posts on social media that described their memories of June Fourth and its yearly commemorations. Yet, the arrests have drawn attention to the very anniversary the authorities tried to erase.
Related: HRIC Condemns Arrest of Chow Hang-tung and Five Others for Tiananmen Massacre Commemoration.
Hong Kong Christian newspaper runs blank front page ahead of Tiananmen crackdown anniversary: The Christian Times usually publishes Tiananmen-related content ahead of every anniversary, but this year said its front page could not be printed, as it “can only respond to the current situation by turning paragraphs into blank squares and white space.”
Hong Kong’s Catholic Diocese axes third consecutive Tiananmen mass as cardinal urges ‘forgiveness’ over crackdown: Instead, it held a service to pray for the Catholic church in China, and the country itself, more than a week ago.
Ex-local councillor asked by police about Tiananmen crackdown anniversary plans; lawmakers say marking date in private is lawful: Ex-Sai Kung district councillor and frequent runner Debby Chan said police called her to ask if she was planning to “go for a run” on June 4.
六四专题 | 曾雨璇：漂去香港，成为桥梁 [June 4th Special | Zeng Yuxuan: Drifting to Hong Kong and Becoming a Bridge]: The podcast “Refuse to Forget” discusses the case of Zeng Yuxuan, a young activist from Mainland China who was arrested and jailed in Hong Kong for planning to display a June Fourth commemorative banner.
'Sitting in jail for everyone else' - a Hong Kong democrat's sacrifice: Owen Chow is one of 14 convicted on Thursday of conspiracy to commit subversion, where two were acquitted and 31 have pleaded guilty in the landmark national security case.
Hong Kong activist Chan Po-ying spent decades fighting for democracy with her husband. After his arrest, she continued: Chan’s husband Leung Kwok-hung, better known by his nickname “Long Hair”, was among the 47 people charged with subversion in the largest, landmark national security case.
8 people convicted of rioting linked to PolyU siege during 2019 Hong Kong protests: This verdict marks the last one for riot trials linked to protests sparked by a university campus siege in Yau Ma Tei in 2019.
Trial of Jimmy Lai adjourned after pro-democracy media tycoon appears to be unwell in Hong Kong court: According to his lawyer Robert Pang, Lai, who is advanced in age, had visited a doctor on Sunday night but had only been prescribed painkillers.
What next for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement?: According to experts, recent developments have had a chilling effect spread across Hong Kong's civil society, pushing most people to keep a distance from participating in civic activities.
Related: Saying Hong Kong Is Dead Does a Disservice to Its People.
UN calls for release of those ‘arbitrarily detained’ under Hong Kong national security laws: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk decried the use of controversial national security laws in Hong Kong to convict democracy advocates, and demanded the release of all those arbitrarily detained.
US imposes visa restrictions on Chinese, Hong Kong officials, State Dept says: According to a spokesperson, Hong Kong pro-democracy organizers in the landmark 47 Democrats trial were jailed simply for peacefully participating in political activities. Therefore, the United States will place visa restrictions on officials responsible for implementing the National Security Law.