tiananmen 9: the end
Again apologies in order this should have been posted a week ago or in the intervening days but I simply couldn't get time on a PC. You may have noticed a comment and my response on the previous Tiananmen post. I'm not going to throw any cheap shots here, just advise that you might want to take a look if you're interested in the idea that there was no massacre.
So the day of the massacre, and let's accept that perhaps nobody actually died in Tiananmen Square. From early on wounded protesters from elsewhere were brought to the Square, from where ambulances picked them up. A message was broadcast in the square asking demonstrators to clear the square and cooperate with the PLA. Some did begin to leave, a small number to tray and talk with martial law troops. Soldiers were on all sides of the square awaiting orders. Of course many troops and tanks were stationed to protect Zhongnanhai.
At around 4.30 tanks and armoured vehicles advanced into the square. The Goddess of Democracy was knocked down and tents were run over. Around Tiananmen Square there was a stand-off between troops and protesters. In some areas, occasionally prompted by brick-throwing, troops opened fire on the unarmed protesters killing some.
Throughout the day across the city hundreds of demonstrators were killed by gunfire. Eventually the square was cleared and the city streets locked-down. Large numbers were arrested. Of those many were beaten or imprisoned, some 'disappeared' forever. There were still for a time calls to protest against the heavy-handed actions of the government, and some press efforts to report events accurately. To this day freedom of speech is heavily curtailed and protest in the square almost unthinkable. Even largely harmless groups like Falun Gong (despite eccentric beliefs) are harshly treated.
So the day of the massacre, and let's accept that perhaps nobody actually died in Tiananmen Square. From early on wounded protesters from elsewhere were brought to the Square, from where ambulances picked them up. A message was broadcast in the square asking demonstrators to clear the square and cooperate with the PLA. Some did begin to leave, a small number to tray and talk with martial law troops. Soldiers were on all sides of the square awaiting orders. Of course many troops and tanks were stationed to protect Zhongnanhai.
At around 4.30 tanks and armoured vehicles advanced into the square. The Goddess of Democracy was knocked down and tents were run over. Around Tiananmen Square there was a stand-off between troops and protesters. In some areas, occasionally prompted by brick-throwing, troops opened fire on the unarmed protesters killing some.
Throughout the day across the city hundreds of demonstrators were killed by gunfire. Eventually the square was cleared and the city streets locked-down. Large numbers were arrested. Of those many were beaten or imprisoned, some 'disappeared' forever. There were still for a time calls to protest against the heavy-handed actions of the government, and some press efforts to report events accurately. To this day freedom of speech is heavily curtailed and protest in the square almost unthinkable. Even largely harmless groups like Falun Gong (despite eccentric beliefs) are harshly treated.
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