April 10, 2022
2 mins read

CCP trying to erase memories of Tiananmen massacre

The CCP has made many attempts to erase the incident from public consciousness over the years by creating a sort of ‘cultural amnesia,’…reports Asian Lite News

Asserting that the recollection of the Tiananmen Square massacre still haunts the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a media report said that the party is making attempts to erase the memory of the ruthless political crackdown from public memory.

Last December, authorities in Hong Kong removed the ‘pillar of shame,’ an iconic memorial dedicated to the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, Hong Kong Post reported.

The memorial was designed by Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot symbolized the ruthless killings committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in June 1989 when thousands of students gathered in central Beijing demanding political reforms and democracy.

Chinese state television reinforced the propaganda by beaming images of violence committed by these ‘counter-revolutionaries’ against the PLA in various parts of the capital. However, the party is still unsure whether its propaganda has worked, the report said.

The CCP has made many attempts to erase the incident from public consciousness over the years by creating a sort of ‘cultural amnesia,’ the report said.

Chinese history textbooks rarely mention the incident and instead focus on historical incidents which portray China’s experience of being a victim of foreign subjugation. Likewise, textbooks in Hong Kong included for the first time reference to the massacre in 2004 but excluded any reference to the violent crackdown of the democracy movement or the fact that unknown numbers of students, Beijing residents, and soldiers were killed when the military moved into the city centre, the report further said.

Every year when the anniversary of the massacre approaches, there is a usual crackdown on human rights activists, and authorities ensure that the day passes like any other day.

Pro-democracy activists used to hold an open candlelight vigil till about 2019. The city’s pro-democracy activists regarded this open celebration of the massacre as a sign of defiance against the CCP and Beijing, which flexed muscles over the city’s residents. But in the last two years, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, authorities have disallowed any gathering.

Following the removal of the ‘pillar of shame’, a few days later, Lingnan University in the city took down the Tiananmen Square Massacre sculpture for the “general interest of the university community.”

Chinese-born New Zealand artist Chen Weiming’s ‘Goddess of Democracy’ sculpture was also removed from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Ironically all these authoritarian moves come when China has exercised a great degree of repression in Hong Kong, in what was once an ‘oasis of liberty,’ in the desert of authoritarianism, the report said.

While economic realities may have changed, in many ways, politically, things have remained the same for those on the mainland. In 1989, ordinary Chinese lacked the right to vote and could not freely criticise the government. Three decades later, the situation is the same, the report further said, adding that, the CCP’s heavy hand has extended beyond its borders to intimidate, threaten, and cajole those who criticise its human rights record and its repression in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong. (ANI)

ALSO READ:  China stops licensing of new video games

Previous Story

Bells start ringing in Kashmir valley

Next Story

US concerned over ‘arbitrary’ Covid measures in China

Latest from -Top News

India, Australia Begin AUSTRAHIND

The AUSTRAHIND exercise, which followed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Australia, reaffirmed the deepening defence cooperation between the two nations…reports Asian Lite News Strengthening the expanding defence partnership between India

Violence Mars TLP Rally in Pakistan

The Pakistani police and rangers launched an operation to disperse TLP supporters after violence broke out during the march….reports Asian Lite News At least four people, including both police officers and civilians,

‘Modi’s a Very Good Friend’: Trump

Trump’s remarks come days after Modi called him to congratulate on the “success” of the Gaza peace plan….reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump on Monday lauded India and described Prime

Delhi, Ottawa Hit Reset

The Canadian Foreign Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday in New Delhi, vowing to strengthen the ties…reports Asian Lite News As India and Canada

Gaza Truce Signed, Key Players Missing

Sisi reiterated support for the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire plan, stressing that the agreement must be “solidified and all its phases implemented…reports Asian Lite News A document formalising the recently brokered
Go toTop

Don't Miss

What’s really going on in China ahead of key CCP meet?

Xi has been absent from the public eye since he

CCP@100: Xi Vows China Will Never Be Bullied

President Xi Jinping said that China will elevate its armed