Remembering Tiananmen Square 2008

Remembering Tiananmen Square In 2008

Events to be held around the world this week

May 30, 2008 (CSN) -- It is that time of year for the annual commemorations and memorial observances to remember the freedom fighters of Tiananmen Square, including the dead, the wounded, and their families who were victimized by the Chinese government's crackdown against the Chinese democracy movement. It was 19 years ago, on the night of June 3-4, 1989, when the government used "the People's Liberation Army" to shoot its way into Tiananmen Square, unloading live ammunition into unsuspecting civilians -- unarmed demonstrators on the streets of Beijing.

Today, CSN is offering this roundup of expected events. (1.) Washington candle light vigil; (2.) New York consulate protest; (3.) Hong Kong candle light vigil; (4.) Washington rally with Yang Jianli and Nancy Pelosi.

(1.) Washington candle light vigil

The IFCSS (Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars) will hold the 19th annual vigil to observe the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, on Sunday June 1, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, outside the Chinese embassy in Washington DC. The China Support Network and Freedom First Olympics Second Coalition will co-sponsor the event, along with Light Club, the modern rock band that will play American rock music in support of the causes of Chinese freedom, democracy, human rights, and an Olympic boycott.

The Chinese embassy is at 2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW in Washington DC.

(2.) New York consulate protest

Chinese groups including the China Democracy Party World Union will hold a protest opposite the Chinese consulate in Manhattan of New York City, on Tuesday June 3 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The Chinese consulate is on the north east corner of 42nd Street and 12th Avenue. The protest will be on the west side of 12th Avenue. This is for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

(3.) Hong Kong candle light vigil

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China will hold the candle light vigil for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre "to commemorate those who were killed in the June 4th Massacre in China and express our eagerness for democracy, freedom, human rights and rule of law." The vigil will occur on Wednesday, June 4, beginning at 8:00pm. The location is the football fields in Victoria Park of Hong Kong.

(4.) Washington rally with Yang Jianli and Nancy Pelosi

On Capitol Hill in Washington DC, a daytime rally will commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. This will be in the late morning of Wednesday, June 4, from 10:30am to 12:00pm. The venue is the Upper Senate Park, which is on Constitution Avenue next to the Russell Senate Office Building. This rally will also feature the end of Dr. Yang Jinali's 500 mile "GongMin Walk," in which he has walked from Boston to Washington during the month of May, 2008. A 21-foot replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue (originally erected by students in Tiananmen Square) will serve as a backdrop. In addition to Dr. Yang Jianli, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will speak, as will T. Kumar (of Amnesty International), Carl Gershman (of the National Endowment for Democracy), Rebiya Kadeer (of Uyghur American Association). Co-sponsors include Initiatives for China, the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars, the Chinese Democratic Party, the Federation for a Democratic China, the Alliance for a Democratic China, Beijing Spring, the Chinese Social Democratic Party, the Uyghur American Association, Falungong Practitioners, the International Campaign for Tibet, Freedom Now, Reporters without Borders USA, Human Rights First, Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, and the US Campaign for Burma.

In addition to the events above, Chinese embassies and consulates around the world will be locations for local protests. Check local human rights groups for details. Here are some that we're aware of:

(5.) London rally with Wei Jingsheng

The Chinese embassy in London is at 49-51 Portland Place, W1B 1JL. This event will be Wednesday, June 4, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. The UK section of Amnesty International (AIUK) is responsible for organizing this demonstration, which will include famed Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng. Other speakers include Kate Allen (of AIUK), Xia Ze (of Friends of Tiananmen Mothers in the UK), and Chinese dissident Shao Jiang. This is for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

(6.) Oxford demonstration

On Wednesday June 4 AIUK is holding a demonstration at the Martyr's Memorial in Oxford, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. This is for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

(7.) Stratford upon Avon vigil

The Stratford upon Avon Methodist Church in Old Town will be open for 12 hours of vigil, from 9:00am to 9:00pm on Wednesday June 4. This is for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

(8.) Belfast (Northern Ireland) demonstration

On Wednesday June 4 AIUK in Northern Ireland is holding a demonstration at the Corn Market in Belfast City Centre, beginning at 12:00 noon. This is for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

(9.) Edinburgh (Scotland) demo w/die-in

On Wednesday June 4 AIUK in Scotland is holding a demonstration to include activists performing a dramatic "die in" at 1:00pm. The venue is The Mound, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL. They will have a table, booth, or stall in the open square next to National Gallery throughout the morning, to help the public / activists to make paper red roses. Those will be used in the program that runs from 12:45pm to 3:45pm. This is for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

(10.) Siegburg, Germany seminar

On Wednesday June 4, the Federation for a Democratic China will be running a program at Asia Büfett Restaurant, Holzgasse 42, 53721 Siegburg, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. This is for the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Xu Wenli meets with Pelosi and State Dept.

U.S. State Department and
House Speaker Pelosi host
Xu Wenli of the Chinese
Democratic Party

Xu Wenli is preparing memorable news to be made at
this year's 18th anniversary of Tiananmen's crackdown, June 4

Xu Wenli in Washington DC meetings of 4/20/2007

April 22, 2007 (CSN) -- Xu Wenli, a veteran Chinese dissident now living in exile in Rhode Island, has been responsible for the Chinese Democratic Party (also known as the China Democracy Party, or CDP) since its founding in Mainland China in 1998. He is the most high profile and senior CDP leader among dissidents in exile. Hence, it was politically significant that the U.S. State Department, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, recently hosted meetings with him last Friday in Washington DC.

At the U.S. State Department, his meeting was at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. There, officials including Jonathan D. Farrar, Paula J. Dobriansky, and Barry F. Lowenkron received him and discussed human rights conditions in China, the U.S.-China human rights dialogue, and upcoming activism for a free China.

According to CDP, State Department officials affirmed "the United States’ continuous commitment to push for democratic reforms in China." A CDP statement characterized the discussions, on a series of issues, as "productive and constructive," adding that the meeting concluded on a note of genuine hope for future cooperation.

Mr. Xu proceeded onwards to Capitol Hill, where he was received by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). It was not their first meeting; Speaker Pelosi is believed to be enamoured of Xu as "China's Hero." The two sides discussed more specific issues related to human rights and democracy in China.

These meetings come during a preparatory time. Xu's China Democracy Party United Headquarters - Overseas Division will host its first Party Congress in June of this year to coincide with the 18th anniversary of the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown, an occasion when ordinary Chinese people led by pro-democracy college students had taken over Tiananmen Square -- and then, on June 4, 1989, Communist China sent in 300,000 army troops, clearing the Square with live ammunition at a cost of some 3,000 innocent civilian lives.

Not long ago, CSN published an article, 'Is the Chinese Democratic Party ready to come of age?'. The party congress comes with timing that seems almost to be in answer to the questions raised in that earlier article. As it becomes ever more prepared for its role in China's future, the CDP is the strongest potential challenger for Chinese leadership, with a growing, nationwide presence in Mainland China.

The 18th anniversary of Tiananmen Square's massacre will have a different character this year. In addition to observances in Washington, Hong Kong, and at Chinese embassies and consulates around the world, there will also be the CDP Congress to occur in Providence, Rhode Island, where Xu Wenli has been a professor at Brown University.

History may remember June 4, 2007 as the occasion where a Congress passes the Declaration of China's Third Republic, a tract that is now circulated by the CDP. As for establishing a democratic republic in China, CSN will hope that the "third time is a charm." * *

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* [Note 1 -- The China Support Network has been sitting with word of the upcoming Congress, and about its proposed "Declaration of China's Third Republic," a tract that has circulated since April 15. We were honoring a "news embargo" in which Xu's materials specified that public release would be on May 2. However, CDP itself released the news on April 21 within the news about Xu Wenli's meetings in Washington DC.

Their statement about the April 20 meetings, including reference to "hosting of the First Party Congress of the China Democracy Party this June and his vision of establishing China’s Third Republic," arrived at CSN in Chinese on April 21, and in English on April 22. A check at the CDP web site shows that this news is already public, allowing journalists to say, "So much for a poorly-kept news embargo."

It seems evident that the U.S. State Department and Nancy Pelosi were clued in about the upcoming activity on Friday, and now CSN readers, subscribers, and members can likewise be informed.]

* * [Note 2. China scholars are aware that a 1911 revolution led to "Asia's First Republic" in China. A post-World War II conference in 1946 led to a Second Republic -- the Island of Taiwan is still governed by the Constitution of the ROC that was negotiated there in 1946. Only later, in 1949, did the Communist Party take power in China.]

* * * [Note 3. News outlets should daybook June 4 & 5 to be the CDP's Party Congress. Who: CDP; What: Party Congress; Where: Brown Univ., Providence RI (two venues); When: June 4 & 5 full days; Contact: Xu Wenli 401-863-9768 or mailto:ccc3@hotmail.com]

China Support Network announces "Egg Mao" interactive exhibit

March 13, 2007 (CSN) -- The China Support Network (CSN) on Tuesday announced an interactive online exhibit allowing web site visitors to throw eggs and ink at a portrait of Chairman Mao. The "Egg Mao" exhibit is based on a demonstration by Lu Decheng, Yu Zhijian, and Yu Dongyue in May 1989. The three men splattered Mao Zedong's portrait at Tiananmen Square in protest against China's government. In 2006 Lu Decheng, a refugee after many years in Chinese prison, was honored for his actions by Chinese dissident leaders in Washington, D.C.

"We celebrate the artistic protest of Lu Decheng and his companions," said CSN executive director Curry Kenworthy, "and we invite all to symbolically join in that protest by visiting this exhibit." Kenworthy started the project due to his admiration for the protest and its potential to inspire continued action and support for the democracy cause. "At first I imagined demonstrations where passersby could lob real eggs at a Mao portrait--and I hope that will be a feature at a future rally--but eventually settled on a virtual protest to allow anyone, anywhere, to get involved in the experience."

Flash artist Randall Bender brought the concept to life with expressive, energetic design as an application that runs in web browsers. No download is required. Visitors point and click to aim egg graphics at Mao's image, which hangs overhead. Sounds accompany the animation of eggs hitting the portrait, and cheers sometimes break out in response. A button is provided to clear away the ink and start over.

CSN's Taiwan director Paul Risenhoover commented, "Finally a fun and worthy e-game!" Founder John Patrick Kusumi also expressed his "kudos" for the exhibit.

Mao Zedong, China's first Communist dictator, has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the top mass murderer of all time, having caused the deaths of tens of millions of Chinese citizens as well as the suffering of countless more from hardships, starvation, lack of freedoms and life choices, public humiliation, broken families, campaigns turning citizens against each other, imprisonment, slave labor, violence, cruelty, and torture. His reforms also attacked Chinese culture, arts, education, science, and intellect.

The Egg Mao exhibit is available with introduction and directions in English and Chinese at these web addresses:

http://chinasupport.net/eggmao/

http://chinasupport.net/eggmao/chinese.htm

An animated banner is available for other web sites to use in linking to the exhibit.