Tiananmen Today

On 4 June 1989, Chinese civilians, for the most part workers and students, who had been gathering en masse in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing's city center since April of that year because of grievances related to inflation, limited career prospects for students and corruption of the Communist party elite, were forced out of the square by the Chinese army.  The protesters, who numbered up to half a million, called for government accountability, freedom of the press, freedom of speech and restoration of workers' control over Chinese industry.  Up to the time that the army arrived, these protests were peaceful.

Initial reports stated that the army fired upon the protesters in Tiananmen Square, but recent discoveries from cables leaked via WikiLeaks have supported the Chinese authorities' account that the army did not actually fire upon protesters in the square itself.  But this is somewhat of a moot point.  The army was merciless as it cut through streets on its way to the square.  Tanks and soldiers destroyed impromptu barricades and other obstacles and fired live ammunition at anyone in their path.  The actual number of civilians killed is not known although estimates range from several hundred to thousands.  Although the Chinese government was widely condemned around the world for its use of force against the protesters, that did not prevent the protesters and their supporters from being arrested, demoted and purged.  Or worse.  Public discussion of this incident is still suppressed in China.

It is one of the great historical ironies that this expansive square, forever linked with 20th-century tyranny and bloodshed, takes its name from the Tiananmen Gate or the Gate of "Heavenly Peace."  It is, however, a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit and one to the resilience of the spirit of the Chinese people in particular because 23 years later, life has fully returned to the area.  Tiananmen Square has also become a major tourist attraction in Beijing.  Thus, HWMBO and his group made their way there as well.

Visibility on the day of their visit was not good

but that did not appear to dampen or squelch visitor enthusiasm at all.

And the group posed for a quick photo

before entering the Forbidden City.