SunWuKong
06-04-2007, 01:40 PM
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=46083&sid=13918050&con_type=3&d_str=20070605
June 4 turnout rises amid outrage at Ma
Scarlett Chiang
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
An estimated 55,000 people packed Victoria Park Monday for the annual candlelit vigil to pay tribute to those who died in the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989.
According to the organizers - the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, branded by Beijing as a subversive organization - the turnout exceeded last year's figure by about 10,000, although the police put the crowd at 27,000.
The participants took up all six football pitches in the park, holding candles and chanting slogans demanding vindication of the student-led protests, an end to one-party rule in the mainland and the building of a democratic China.
They also sang patriotic songs, and wreaths were laid beside a statue of the "Goddess of Democracy" by leaders of the alliance, headed by Szeto Wah, who has led the group for the past 18 years.
"We will seek justice for you. A democratic China must come true," Szeto told the crowd, including visitors from across the border, many of whom have never attended such an event, which is banned in the mainland.
A student from Beijing, who identified herself as Wu, said it was the first time she had seen a such large gathering honoring those who lost their lives at Tiananmen.
Wu said what she knew about the June 4 incident in the mainland was that the government had killed some dissidents for "stirring up social unrest."
The truth was kept from her until her friends in Hong Kong told her "the other
side of the story" two years ago.
"I was shocked when I learned what had actually happened," Wu said. "I would not have believed it if I had not seen the whole story posted on `freedom wall' at the Chinese University of Hong Kong."
Some of the participants said that they were angered by recent remarks by Ma Lik, chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, who denied that troops had massacred protesters.
Shouts of "Down with Ma Lik" were heard among the crowd.
Ma's comments sparked outrage among the public and members of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movements.
But the veteran politician later tried to defuse the situation by saying his remarks might have been "rash and frivolous."
Reading out the names of those killed in the 1989 protests, Szeto condemned Ma for "shamefully denying the crime of massacre for the government."
"Those who despise you, like Ma Lik, will be remembered as garbage in history," he said.
Chan Ching-wah, a Hong Kong student representative who went to Beijing in 1989 in support of the demonstrators, said, in referring to Ma, he "was shocked that a person can be so ruthless.
"I don't think Chinese leaders will say such things," Chan said.
He recalled what he saw at Tiananmen Square in 1989, and described himself as "lucky" to be alive after being severely injured by troops sent to the capital.
Chan said he could clearly see the bodies of protesters left on the streets while he was being taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.
"Think about their mothers and their fathers when you read about what Ma had said. His comments were totally uncalled for," Chan said.
Another participant, 20-year-old Cindy Lam Ka-ying, who was attending the vigil for the first time, said: "I came here because of Ma's nonsense. I hope the central government will admit the massacre, which has made many countries despise China."
Rain Law Bik-yuk, who has been bringing her 13-year-old daughter to the event every year, said she hoped she did not need to attend the vigil anymore. "I hope Beijing will reveal more information about June 4 and end the demands for a thorough investigation."
In a videotaped message to the crowd, Wang Dan, one of the student leaders of the 1989 protests, expressed regret that Beijing still insists the crackdown was the right move.
At a prayer session in memory of victims, Catholic church leader Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said: "The violent act took way the lives of those in their youth and labeled them sinners for `creating social unrest.' This is a shame in our history. We cannot forget them and enjoy our freedom selfishly."
June 4 turnout rises amid outrage at Ma
Scarlett Chiang
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
An estimated 55,000 people packed Victoria Park Monday for the annual candlelit vigil to pay tribute to those who died in the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989.
According to the organizers - the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, branded by Beijing as a subversive organization - the turnout exceeded last year's figure by about 10,000, although the police put the crowd at 27,000.
The participants took up all six football pitches in the park, holding candles and chanting slogans demanding vindication of the student-led protests, an end to one-party rule in the mainland and the building of a democratic China.
They also sang patriotic songs, and wreaths were laid beside a statue of the "Goddess of Democracy" by leaders of the alliance, headed by Szeto Wah, who has led the group for the past 18 years.
"We will seek justice for you. A democratic China must come true," Szeto told the crowd, including visitors from across the border, many of whom have never attended such an event, which is banned in the mainland.
A student from Beijing, who identified herself as Wu, said it was the first time she had seen a such large gathering honoring those who lost their lives at Tiananmen.
Wu said what she knew about the June 4 incident in the mainland was that the government had killed some dissidents for "stirring up social unrest."
The truth was kept from her until her friends in Hong Kong told her "the other
side of the story" two years ago.
"I was shocked when I learned what had actually happened," Wu said. "I would not have believed it if I had not seen the whole story posted on `freedom wall' at the Chinese University of Hong Kong."
Some of the participants said that they were angered by recent remarks by Ma Lik, chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, who denied that troops had massacred protesters.
Shouts of "Down with Ma Lik" were heard among the crowd.
Ma's comments sparked outrage among the public and members of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movements.
But the veteran politician later tried to defuse the situation by saying his remarks might have been "rash and frivolous."
Reading out the names of those killed in the 1989 protests, Szeto condemned Ma for "shamefully denying the crime of massacre for the government."
"Those who despise you, like Ma Lik, will be remembered as garbage in history," he said.
Chan Ching-wah, a Hong Kong student representative who went to Beijing in 1989 in support of the demonstrators, said, in referring to Ma, he "was shocked that a person can be so ruthless.
"I don't think Chinese leaders will say such things," Chan said.
He recalled what he saw at Tiananmen Square in 1989, and described himself as "lucky" to be alive after being severely injured by troops sent to the capital.
Chan said he could clearly see the bodies of protesters left on the streets while he was being taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.
"Think about their mothers and their fathers when you read about what Ma had said. His comments were totally uncalled for," Chan said.
Another participant, 20-year-old Cindy Lam Ka-ying, who was attending the vigil for the first time, said: "I came here because of Ma's nonsense. I hope the central government will admit the massacre, which has made many countries despise China."
Rain Law Bik-yuk, who has been bringing her 13-year-old daughter to the event every year, said she hoped she did not need to attend the vigil anymore. "I hope Beijing will reveal more information about June 4 and end the demands for a thorough investigation."
In a videotaped message to the crowd, Wang Dan, one of the student leaders of the 1989 protests, expressed regret that Beijing still insists the crackdown was the right move.
At a prayer session in memory of victims, Catholic church leader Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said: "The violent act took way the lives of those in their youth and labeled them sinners for `creating social unrest.' This is a shame in our history. We cannot forget them and enjoy our freedom selfishly."