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The "Gate of Heavenly Peace." Tiananmen Square as we call it, is somewhat of a paradox. The massacre that took place on June 6, 1989 was nowhere near peace. To set the stage, on April 16, 1989, former secretary general of the Community party Hu Yaobang died of a sudden heart attack. Thousands of students and protestors gather around Zhongnanthai, a residency for top Chinese officials. The students demand talk to Prime Minister Li Peng in regards to Hu Yaobang's dismissal from office in 1987.
During Hu's term in office, he organized the rehabilitation of Chinese intellects that had been criticized during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution. He was then later accused of being soft on student protestors during the 1986 Tiananmen Square protest. Hu was then disgracefully dismissed by the Chinese government and replaced by Zhao Ziyang. Li Peng granted the students of a memorial service for the late Hu Yaobang in the Great Hall of the People. Thousands of students began to gather outside in Tianamen Square as a tribute to Hu. On April 22, 1989, three student representatives knelt outside the Great Hall with a petition addressed to Li Peng. The representatives refused to pass on the petition to the hall guards fearing it would just be dismissed.
Li Peng sent no response to the protest. The protest for democracy continues as the students began to boycott their classes the next day. On April 26, the Communist Party's newspaper People Daily published an article accusing a handful of people of stirring up student's unrest and turmoil among the thousands. There were words that suggested a possible agenda to overthrow the Chinese government by the student protestors.
On April 27 the government was still not responsive. The crowd becomes larger. Thousands of students from more than 40 universities began to gather in front of Tiananmen Square. On May 4th, Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang met with foreign bankers. He made a speech which in essence contradicts the story published by the People's Daily on April 26th.
As the number of student protestors began to increase, the demand to have official talks with Li Peng also became more intense. Students went on hunger strikes. The government surprisingly accepted the students proposal for talks on the sixth day of the hunger strike. A handful of students chosen to speak with Li Peng had only one thing in mind - democracy. They were straightforward and explicit about their concerns and demands. Li Peng dodged their questions by first insisting that the safety for the then 2000 plus students whom have fainted, be treated and taken home due to the hunger strike. The talks ended with very little progress for either side. The Chinese government began talks of declaring martial law.
The information of martial law declaration leaked to the students which prompted them to end all hunger strikes and prepare for a massive "sit-in." In an attempt to call off the protestors, Li Peng spoke on a national television broadcast concerning the matter. He called "firm and resolute measures to end the turmoil swiftly."
The next day, the government declares martial law. Tanks and the Chinese government troops began to roll into Tiananmen Square. But the hordes of people blocked the path of the army. Due to this, the army had to back out and station themselves on the adjacent perimeter of Tiananmen Square. On May 23rd, the Alliance to Protect the Constitution was born. On May 24th, the Defend Tiananmen Square Headquarters was set up and Zhao Ziyang names Chai Ling the Commander-in-Chief of the army. The Alliance to Protect the Constitution issues an ultimatum for the students to leave Tiananmen by May 30th. The Defend Tianamen Square Headquarters rejects that resolution submitted by the Alliance. On June 2nd, four students began another hunger strike. On June 3rd, Chai Ling is given orders to take back Tiananmen Square at all cost. At approximately 10:00 p.m. the troops began rolling in towards the square. Whoever stood in the way of the tanks and armored personnel vehicles were shot. This also included people who were shouting at the army. Innocent bystanders were also wounded and killed. On June 4th, the army surrounded and reclaimed Tiananmen Square. They secured the area and waited for further orders. The four students who began the hunger strike negotiated with the troops to let the other protestors leave. Thousands of students and teachers left the square at gunpoint by 5:00 p.m.
Personal Sentiment:
It is definitely a tragedy to see so many die of a cause they
believe in. I guess this is the nature of war and conflicts. With
the power of the current nations and political turmoil, there
is great potential for global chaos. Tiananmen Square is but one
example of turmoil and conflict that our society has to deal with
today. Whether you look from the government or the protestor's
views, conflict that is escalated will most likely result in death
and grief. Let us learn from this one example and many others
that conflicts are reoccurring events in the history of mankind.
We must become smarter and wiser to escape the grips of war. We
must use the knowledge of our past and apply it to the future.
It is our only line of defense against global destruction.
