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International Tibet Network Members[1] are today joining the commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the 4 June Tiananmen Square Massacre when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army opened fire on tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators killing untold numbers of peaceful protesters and bystanders.
In the weeks leading up to 4 June students, democracy activists and workers had peacefully gathered in Tiananmen Square, and other Chinese cities, protesting against the ruling Party, calling for freedom of expression, accountability and democracy.
We will always remember this catastrophic event and the bravery of all those who took part in the freedom protests of 1989.
As in previous years, authorities have been on high alert ahead of the anniversary to preempt commemorations of the massacre. Freedom is curtailed for anyone deemed a dissident or with links to the Tiananmen Square Massacre including members of Tiananmen Mothers, a group of relatives of Tiananmen Massacre victims. In March 2023, three Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who were also Tiananmen vigil organisers were convicted under the national security law.[2]
Despite the consistent crackdowns from the Chinese regime against any form of dissidence, resistance to the Party’s increasingly repressive measures and calls for change both within Chinese borders and in occupied territories persist. Following an apartment fire that killed 10 people in Ürümchi, November 2022 saw a widespread outpouring of public dissent[3] in many Chinese cities that came to be known as the White Paper Revolution.[4]
In the past two years, world governments have become increasingly robust in the actions taken against China’s human rights abuses. The UN OHCHR released a long-awaited report in August 2022 detailing an assessment of human rights concerns in East Turkistan (CH: Xinjiang),[5] including a statement that says the Chinese government has committed abuses against Uyghurs and other Turkic communities that may amount to crimes against humanity. But more needs to be done to ensure the international community response matches the courage and conviction of those who resist China from within.
Three decades on from the Tiananmen Massacre the human rights situation for all who live under China’s rule has hit an all time low and repression across all regions and occupied territories. The situation in illegally occupied Tibet has deteriorated dramatically over the past decade and in 2023, it was listed as one of the least free countries in the world, alongside Syria and South Sudan.[6] At least two million Uyghur, Kazakh, and Uzbek Muslims are currently incarcerated in “re-education camps”[7] undergoing systematic torture, rape, and political re-education. In Hong Kong, the Chinese government has implemented a draconian National Security Bill that is being used to criminalise protest[8] and even mild criticism of the Chinese government. Protests by Southern Mongolians, who are seeing their language and culture being eradicated, are put down with force.
We pay tribute to the enduring courage of those who continue to resist China’s draconian rule and we urge the international community to show not only that it will never forget the atrocities of the past, but that it will stand up against the flagrant disregard for fundamental human rights. We call on governments to join together to call on China to;
Supported by the following 121 Tibet Network Member Groups:
Aide aux Refugies TibetainsAlaskans for Tibet Amigos de Tibet, Colombia Amigos de Tibet, La Unión Chile Amigos del Tibet, El Salvador Amigos del Tibet, Santiago de Chile Anterrashtriya Bharat – Tibbet Sahyog Samiti Asociación Cultural Peruano Tibetana Asociación Cultural Tibetano Costarricense Association Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina Association Drôme Ardèche-Tibet Associazione Italia-Tibet Australia Tibet Council Bay Area Friends of Tibet Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch (BTSM) Bharrat Tibbat Samvad Manch, India Boston Tibet Network Briancon05 Urgence Tibet Canada Tibet Committee Casa del Tibet – Spain Casa Tibet México Centro Cultural Columbo Tibetano Centro De Cultura Tibetana, Brazil CADAL Circle of Friends (Philippines) Comite de Apoyo al Tibet (CAT) Committee of 100 for Tibet Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India Czechs Support Tibet Dream for Children, Japan EcoTibet Ireland Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai Lama France-Tibet Free Indo-Pacific Alliance Free Tibet Free Tibet Fukuoka Friends of Tibet in Bulgaria Friends of Tibet in Finland Friends of Tibet New Zealand Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet Human Rights Network for Tibet & Taiwan India Tibet Friendship Society International Tibet Independence Movement Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super Sangha) Le Club Français, Paraguay Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg Liberté au Tibet (Colmar, France) Lions Des Neiges Mont Blanc, France LUNGTA – Actief voor Tibet Maison des Himalayas Maison du Tibet – Tibet Info National Campaign for Free Tibet Support, India National Democratic Party of Tibet Objectif Tibet Passeport Tibetain Phagma Drolma-Arya Tara RangZen:Movimento Tibete Livre, Brasil RBA Réseau Bouddhisme et Action, France Roof of the World Foundation, Indonesia Sakya Trinley Ling Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet Save Tibet Foundation Save Tibet, Austria SFT Japan SFT-India Sierra Friends of Tibet Students for a Free Tibet Students for a Free Tibet – Canada Students for a Free Tibet – France Students for a Free Tibet – UK Students for a Free Tibet Denmark Swedish Tibet Committee Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF) Taiwan Friends of Tibet Tashi Delek Bordeaux The Norwegian Tibet Committee The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, Mongolia and Turkestan Tibet Action Group of Western Australia Tibet Action Institute Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech) Tibet Group, Panama Tibet Initiative Deutschland Tibet Justice Center Tibet Lives, India Tíbet Patria Libre, Uruguay Tibet Society of South Africa Tibet Support Association Hungary Tibet Support Committee Denmark Tibet Support Group – Netherlands Tibet Support Group Adelaide – Australia Tibet Support Group Ireland Tibet Support Group Kenya Tibet Support Group Kiku, Japan Tibet Support Group, Costa Rica Tibetan Association of Germany Tibetan Association of Ithaca Tibetan Association of Northern California Tibetan Association of Philadelphia Tibetan Community Austria Tibetan Community in Britain Tibetan Community in Denmark Tibetan Community in France Tibetan Community in Ireland Tibetan Community in Japan Tibetan Community of Australia (Victoria) Tibetan Community of Italy Tibetan Community Sweden Tibetan Cultural Association – Quebec Tibetan Programme of The Other Space Foundation Tibetan Women’s Association (Central) Tibetan Youth Association in Europe Tibetans of Mixed Heritage Tibetisches Zentrum Hamburg TIBETmichigan TSG – Slovenia U.S. Tibet Committee United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT) Voces de Tibet, México World League for Freedom and Democracy
Notes
[1]- International Tibet Network [2]- Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organisers convicted under national security law [3]- China Dissent Monitor [4]- Blank sheets of paper become symbol of defiance in China protests [5]- OHCHR Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China [6]- Countries and Territories [7]- Maps show 500 suspected 're-education' camps and prisons where China is locking up and torturing its Muslim minority [8]- National security law: Hong Kong rounds up 53 pro-democracy activists
