China The big demonstration ended in bloodshed in Beijing 33 years ago – now the victims cannot be remembered even in Hong Kong for fear of severe punishment

To China the anniversary of the Heavenly Peace Square massacre, one of the most painful historical events, will be celebrated in China again this year, with silence and intensified surveillance of gravel sounds.

On June 4, 1989, exactly 33 years ago, the Chinese army violently cracked down on a demonstration in Beijing’s central square demanding political and economic reform that had gathered tens of thousands of people. At least hundreds of people died in the repression of the protest.

In China, violence against its own citizens has been forgotten by avoiding mentioning the event and censoring references to a date or place online. Also in Hong Kong, which has become more heavily influenced by China, the tradition of commemorations seems to be coming to an end.

For thirty years, the Special Administrative Region hosted spectacular commemorations in Tiananmen, where tens of thousands of people gathered in a downtown park to hold candles.

Occasions organization had been blocked in recent years due to interest rate restrictions. Last fall, the organizing body, the Hong Kong Alliance, formed in 1989 after the Tiananmen events, ended its activities after being charged with acting as a foreign agent under a strict security law.

Even in the churches of Hong Kong, joint commemorations are no longer held on the anniversary of the massacre for fear of security.

Although no official commemorations are known this year, authorities in Hong Kong closed parks and public gathering places before Saturday. Police said they had received information about commemorations convened through other channels and sternly warned that those gathering in public places on the 4th day might be guilty of the illegal gathering, even if alone.

Human Rights Organization Amnesty International has convened commemorations in more than 20 cities for the victims of Tiananmen. At the same time, solidarity is being shown with Hong Kong, where citizens have lost their freedom of expression.

“Lighting a candle in memory of Tiananmen has become a crime in Hong Kong, as it has been a crime in China for more than three decades. However, history cannot be erased and the voice of activists cannot be muted, ”said Amnesty’s Deputy Director for East Asia. Hana Young says in a press release.

According to Amnesty, commemorations in Tiananmen will be held in Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, France, the United States and Taiwan, among others.