Death of a symbol
Mural to Hu Yaobang
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With the ousting of Hu Yaobang in 1987 did quell much of democracy movement in China. However this victory for the conservatives in the Party would not last long. There was still a want for reform amongst groups in China. Notable astrophysicist Fang Lizhi wrote an open letter at the start of 1989 to Deng Xiaoping requesting amnesty for all the political prisoners in China (particularly Wei Jingsheng). This letter garnered lots of support from the nation's student body.
However on April 15 Hu Yaobang passed away of a heart attack (rumoured to have had happen whilst arguing for reform). This can be seen as the catalyst for things to come much like the Tiananmen Incident in 1976. The very next day saw 300 students arrive at Tiananmen Square to pay tribute and this number grew to the thousands in 4 days. Students were demanding for an audience with the Premier at the time Li Peng. Hu had become a symbol of democratic reform and because of this his death had unite and spurred on students who wanted change. |
Students ask for a meeting with Li Peng
Government responds
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Even at this early stage the Chinese government were quick to respond. When the demonstrators first arrived and their number rapidly grew, police were used to disperse the crowd. In this action several students were injured. These wounded students turned into martyrs and this added impetus to the demonstration.
One defining moment of the government's response was what would become known as the April 26 editorial. It was printed in the Renmin Ribao (People's Daily) which was owned and operated by the government. This article essentially painted the demostrators as social anarchists who wanted nothing but to ruin the stability of the of China. It also made the government's stance very clear. 'A clear-cut stand to oppose the disturbance, and firmly preserve the hard-earned situation of political stability' |
The movement grows
Zhao Ziyang and Mikhail Gorbachev
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When one of the Student groups started a hunger strike on the 13 of May. The demonstration not only galvanised the students resolve but also attracted many other groups to the demonstration. These included doctors, journalists and workers. The demonstration now turned from a mostly student one to a public one with more specific demands such as the removal of Li Peng and Deng Xiaoping. There has been little to none cooperation between both demonstrators and Party officials.
Mikhail Gorbachev visits China on the 15 of May. It is the first time that a Soviet head of State has been to China since 1957. What was meant to be a success for Deng Xiaoping turned into a nightmare with motorcades being blocked by demonstrators. This is seen as an embarrassment for the Chinese government and arguments turned bitter within the party as to how to deal with the demonstrators. Zhao Ziyang wanted a peaceful resolution however he was relieved of his duties due to this type of thinking, much like Hu Yaobang before him. When the demonstrators had erected the Statue of the Godees of Democracy on the 30th of May it did two things: 1. Signify the last major effort of the movement as well as the peak of the protests which now had close to 1 million people. 2. Represent everything the Communist Party hated as it it was a blend of the traditional deity, Guan Yin, and the American Statue of Liberty. |
The crack down
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With Zhao Ziyang out of power, Hardliner Li Peng was now the Premier of the State Council. In this position Li brought in martial law on the 19th of May 1989. Both Li Peng and Deng Xiaoping wanted an end to this. Li Peng because of his conservative stance and Deng Xiaoping for the embarrassment of the Gorbachev visit.
The PLA moved in to remove the demonstrators on the morning of the 4th of June. The army used heavy handed tactics, acting on the orders of 'any means necessary. Many citizens died whilst the army was en route to the square whereas the square itself, the place of the protests, had little casualties. Government reports suggest that little people were actually killed however independent sources put the figure much higher. The demonstration has since been classed as a counter-revolution by the Chinese government. |
PLA move in