UK Parliament Commemorates Tiananmen 35th Anniversary, HRIC's Zhou Fengsuo Speaks
“Westminster Remembers Tiananmen: do we stand with Tank Man or with the tanks which massacred pro democracy protestors? It’s still the question which each of us needs to answer,” Lord David Alton said to a room of activists, NGO leaders, and Members of Parliament at Westminster on Thursday, May 16. It was a significant moment in history at the UK Parliament: a seminar and exhibition were held to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the first time such an event was held in a national parliament. HRIC is deeply grateful to Lord Alton and MP Fiona Bruce for hosting this important occasion.
Fengsuo Zhou, HRIC’s executive director, reflected on the enduring significance of June 4th, particularly emphasizing the global impact of democratization efforts in China. Zhou highlighted the shared ideals of multiple generations, including Liu Xiaobo, Chow Hang-tung, and 曾雨璇 (Zeng Yuxuan), all united in the quest for democracy since the pivotal events of 1989.
The exhibition featured several poignant artifacts from Tiananmen Square, including a blood-stained towel from the early hours of June 4th, flyers printed on May 22nd, a special T-shirt from the moment the Goddess of Democracy was erected, the flag of Southeast University’s student union, banners from Tiananmen Square, commemorative posters from 1989, a small replica of the Goddess of Democracy, and a copy of special edition of 2009 June 4th Candlelight vigil by Jimmy Lai’s Apple Daily.
Over 40 invitees attended the event, and engaged in deep and meaningful discussion. Notable speakers included:
Fiona Bruce MP, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief;
Fengsuo Zhou, HRIC Executive Director and Tiananmen student leader;
Jian Ma, journalist and photographer at Tiananmen;
Apple Peiqing Ni, founder of China Dissent Network;
Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid;
Benedict Rogers, founder and CEO of Hong Kong Watch; and
Jemimah Steinfeld, Editor in Chief at Index on Censorship.
Fiona Bruce MP highlighted the case of Zhang Zhan, imprisoned for seeking the truth about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, and called for adherence to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Benedict Rogers raised questions about the whereabouts of 曾雨璇 (Zeng Yuxuan) and expressed concern over political prisoners in Hong Kong. Jian Ma shared his photographs capturing the spirit of the Tiananmen heroes, while Jemimah Steinfeld warned against the CCP's manipulation of history. Apple Peiqing Ni emphasized the enduring spirit of resistance among the diaspora and raised concerns about threats from CCP agents. Pastor Bob Fu addressed the persecution of religious believers, highlighting the genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, arrests of Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan Buddhist monks, and the incarceration of Christians.
As Liu Xiaobo once said: "There is no force that can put an end to the human quest for freedom," a sentiment that resonated deeply throughout the event. As the world remembers the bravery of those who stood for democracy 35 years ago, the call for a free and just China remains as strong as ever.
