Tiananmen Square Massacre Commemorated

LOLITA C. BALDOR

Zhang Boli, left, and Wang Chaohua look on during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Thursday, June 3, 2004 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Chaohua and Boli, both United States students at the time, were present at the massacre. (AP Photo/Lauren Burke)

June 3, 2004

WASHINGTON
Fifteen years ago, Tong Yi watched in terror as tanks rolled toward China's Tiananmen Square and government soldiers gunned down two students who were just a few feet from her. On Thursday, she joined other exiled leaders of the student protest in calling for the United States and other Western countries to pressure the Chinese government on human rights violations and democracy.

"We believed we were patriots," Tong, now a New York lawyer, said at a news conference. "We never anticipated they would roll over us in tanks."

They are older now, working as accountants, lawyers, journalists and Internet executives. But as the former student leaders gathered to mark the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre that left hundreds or even thousands dead, they pledged to reorganize and force change in their homeland.

For Tong that means educating people about the struggle for democracy in China. Tong said she probably will not return soon to China. Liu Junguo is determined to go back.

Liu has staged a hunger strike since Tuesday morning in front of the Chinese Embassy. He wants to commemorate the anniversary and draw attention to political prisoners in China.

Liu, who planned to end the fast on Friday, said he and others should return to China even if it means re-entering the country secretly.

"We should not just sit and wait for change. We've been waiting for 15 years and it hasn't happened," he said. "We will probably change our approach."

From within China, he said, activists could better organize the Chinese people. But he said it's a risk.

His close friend, Boston scholar Yang Jianli, has been detained for more than two years in China after entering the country illegally. And he was recently sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spying.

Yang's case was noted by the former students as they read a statement calling for the Chinese government to release political prisoners.

But they said it is hard to have an impact when Western countries promote trade and other relationships with China.

"We have become an inconvenience for world leaders and multinational companies," said Wuer Kaixi, who was on the Chinese government's most wanted list after organizing the student uprising. "The American government struck a deal with the Chinese government. It puts us in a very awkward position."

But, he said it is not too late. "Students rose up in 1989," he said. "They will do so again."

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Source: "AP".