BEIJING: “High Security in China & Hong Kong on Tiananmen Anniversary”, China authorities said
they would close Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on Tuesday, the 35th anniversary of the Jun 4 incident,
while Hong Kong police also tightened security as activists in Taiwan and elsewhere prepared to
mark The date with vigils.
“Chinese Tanks Entered Tiananmen Square Before Dawn on June 4, 1989, Quelling Student and Worker Protests After Weeks of Demonstrations”
Decades after the incident rights activists say the demonstrators’ original goals – including a free
press and freedom of speech – remain distant, and Jun 4 is still a taboo topic in China.
The ruling Communist Party has never released a death toll, though rights groups and witnesses say
the figure could run into the thousands.
“Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te Reaffirms: ‘Memory of June 4th Will Persist Amidst the Flow of
History’; Stresses Continued Significance of the Anniversary”
“Recently Inaugurated Taiwan President Lai Asserts: ‘Taiwan Will Counter Authoritarianism with Freedom’ Amid Heightened Tensions with China”
In Beijing, an official website for Tiananmen Square posted a notice earlier saying the square would be closed for the entire day on Jun 4, and that those who had bought tickets for the square could get them refunded. The official social media account of the Beijing subway network announced that an exit of Tiananmen East station would be closed from Jun 2 to 5.
Small groups of “stability maintenance” volunteers – retirees with red armbands – have been keeping watch at neighbourhoods in central Beijing since last week. Guards have also been stationed on pedestrian bridges, a regular practice during politically sensitive periods.
On Chinese social media platforms including WeChat and Douyin, users were unable to change their profile photos, according to online posts and Reuters tests.
