DATE=6/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250236
TITLE=TIANANMEN VIGIL (L)
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMKINS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN HONG KONG TODAY
(FRIDAY) TO COMMEMORATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA'S CRACKDOWN
ON THE TIANANMEN SQUARE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT. VOA HONG KONG
CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS FEELINGS AMONG PEOPLE IN THE
TERRITORY REMAIN STRONG A DECADE AFTER THE MASSACRE.
TEXT: /// ACT OF SINGING UP AND UNDER ///
THEY HELD CANDLES AND SANG SONGS TO MOURN THOSE WHO DIED 10 YEARS
AGO DURING THE ARMY'S BLOODY CRACKDOWN ON PRO- DEMOCRACY
DEMONSTRATORS IN BEIJING. THOUSANDS OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS
TURNED OUT FOR THE ANNUAL CANDLE-LIGHT VIGIL.
ORGANIZERS LIKE ALBERT HO SAY THIS CEREMONY MAKES IT CLEAR THAT
MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPENED A
DECADE AGO.
/// HO ACT ///
I THINK IT SHOWS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT WHEN ALL
THE CHINESE PEOPLE INSIDE THE MAINLAND ARE BEING
SILENCED HERE WE IN HONG KONG ARE DEMONSTRATING TO THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE VOICING THE CONSCIENCE OF
THE CHINESE PEOPLE -- THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN 1989
MUST BE VINDICATED. I THINK JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL.
/// END ACT ///
MANY PARTICIPANTS, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, REMEMBERED THE HORROR OF
JUNE FOURTH 1989. THIS WOMAN SAYS SHE STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND
WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAD TO DIE IN A FIGHT FOR CHANGE.
/// WOMAN ACT ///
I THINK THE 1989 THING WAS SUCH A TRAGEDY. TEARS ARE
WELLING UP IN MY EYES ITS JUST I FEEL FOR EVERYBODY.
/// END ACT ///
THE TERRITORY'S 10TH TIANANMEN SQUARE ANNIVERSARY FEATURED
SPEECHES FROM PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS WHO CHANTED SLOGANS LIKE
LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY AND LONG LIVE FREEDOM. A DECADE AFTER THE
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN CHINA WAS CRUSHED THE MEMORIES FOR SOME
HAVE FADED BUT THE TIANANMEN MOVEMENT IS STILL CLOSE TO THEIR
HEART.
/// WOMAN ACT ///
I AM HERE EVERY YEAR UNTIL CHINA RECOUNTS WHAT HAPPENED.
WE SHOULD STILL COME HERE EVERY YEAR TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE
ARE STILL CONCERNED THEY STILL REMEMBER AND THAT THE
ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO DIE DOWN.
/// END ACT ///
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS COMMEMORATION CEREMONY WAS A LIVE TELEPHONE
CONVERSATION BETWEEN ORGANIZERS AND FORMER TIANANMEN PROTEST
LEADER WANG DAN, NOW LIVING IN EXILE IN THE UNITED STATES. MR.
WANG TOLD THE CROWD THE STRUGGLE OF THE 1989 MOVEMENT HAD
ISOLATED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FROM ITS PEOPLE.
HERE IN HONG KONG THERE ARE SIMILAR FEELINGS. FEARS THAT CHINA
MAY ONE DAY ROB THEM OF THEIR FREEDOMS AND EVENTS LIKE THIS WILL
NO LONGER BE ALLOWED. BUT ORGANIZERS MAINTAIN THAT CANNOT
HAPPEN. THEY STRESS AS LONG AS PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY HAVE
FREEDOM TO SPEAK THEY WILL SPEAK AND CONTINUE TO SPEAK LOUDLY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/CS/KL
04-Jun-99 2:10 PM EDT (1810 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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