Police warn families of Tiananmen crackdown dead not to visit graves on 37th anniversary
Summary
Chinese police have stopped relatives of victims from visiting a cemetery in Beijing on the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Authorities in Hong Kong have also increased security to prevent public commemorations, continuing a long effort to suppress memories of the event.Key Facts
- The 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown was a military action against pro-democracy student protests in Beijing, resulting in hundreds or possibly thousands of deaths.
- Relatives of the victims, known as the Tiananmen Mothers, have visited a cemetery annually for over 30 years to remember those killed, but police blocked their visits this year.
- Chinese authorities aim to erase public memory of the crackdown through censorship and suppression of commemorations.
- In Hong Kong, police prevented gatherings and stopped artists from symbolic acts on the anniversary, following a ban on the candlelight vigil since 2020.
- Amnesty International called the ban on visiting graves a harsh and troubling move by China’s government.
- Some international figures, like U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, issued statements supporting remembrance and free expression related to the anniversary.
- The Tiananmen Mothers demand full disclosure, compensation, and legal action related to the crackdown.
- Online platforms like Facebook, where messages about the anniversary appear, are blocked in China.
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