Tiananmen Square
 |
| Tiananmen Square Beijing |
Tiananmen is a city square named after the Tiananmen gate, located to the north of it that separates it from the Forbidden City. The square has great significance for China because of its historical legacy and being the location of the Great Hall of the People, Monument to the People’s Heroes, the National Museum of China and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. The Tiananmen Square is highly revered by the Chinese People because it was the place where Mao Zedong first announced the formation of the People’s Republic of China.
Most of the individuals in the Western world are familiar with the name of this square due to the confrontation at this place between the Chinese Security forces and the pro-democracy protesters that culminated in the killing of hundreds of people. The showdown is known as Tiananmen Square massacre in the western world.
Background of the Tiananmen Square Massacre
 |
| A protester standing at the Tiananmen Square in defiance of Chinese Army |
Till the rule of Mao Zedong, China was under a strict communist control in which State did not allow holding any private property. Though this arrangement of the economy had kept the prices of commodities in control, yet it did not permit the economy to flourish. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping emerged as the new leader of Communist China after the death of Mao Zedong. Deng Xiaoping carried out massive reforms to promote a free trade economy, and with this, the people of China started to enjoy the perks of liberalization. Xiaoping appointed his close associates to important party posts, and Hu Yaobang was one of them. Hu Yaobang was later forced to resign on the pretext that he is way soft on the protesters. On the 15th of April, 1989, Hu Yaobang died a natural death, but his death caused an uproar in the pro-democracy circles for more political and economic freedom, the values for which he stood in his life.
A few days later, thousands of mourning students marched towards the Tiananmen Square calling for a more democratic system. On the 19th of May, Chinese Prime Minister Le Peng imposed martial law, and on the 4th of June, Chinese troops arrived at the spot after failure in negotiations. The confrontation between the government forces and protesters resulted in the killings of hundreds of people labeled by the Western media as “Tiananmen Square Massacre.”
Who to blame for the Tiananmen Square Massacre?
The Tiananmen Square massacre can be equally blamed on the then Chinese government and the pro-democracy protesters. On the one hand, the government used indiscriminate force, and on the other hand, the protesters were rigid in their stance during negotiations. This non-flexible attitude from both the sides resulted in a massacre. On the contrary, the sit-in in the Shanghai city ended in a more positive manner with protesters dispersing without turning violent.
`Chinese Government’s response to Tiananmen Square Massacre
The Chinese government arrested most of the student leaders and sentenced them to varying punishments based on their role in the protests. However, some in the leadership managed to escape to Europe and the United States of America, and from there they are still continuing their campaign.
Two different versions regarding Tiananmen Square Massacre
The Tiananmen Square Massacre can be seen from two different angles depending on the inclination and approach. The Chinese government and pro-communism activists consider the protests as a foreign plot to destabilize and to overthrow the Communism regime whereas the pro-protesters lobby perceives it as an indigenous movement for economic and political reforms. Whatever is your inclination but one thing is must, and that is the shedding of blood should not take place in any case.
About Muhammad Asim
0 comments:
Post a Comment