Thursday, June 04, 2009

Remembering Tiananmen, 20 years later!

June 4, 1989 went down into the annals of history with a grim tale! The day witnessed perhaps the most violent condemnation of free speech and peaceful intent, ever! 7000 innocent unarmed students and demonstrators lost their lives in what came to be known as the Tiananmen Square massacre! This post pays homage to all those who lost their lives at the instance of cruel communist mercenaries who continue to wreck havoc in Tibet.



The following picture which became iconic of Tiananmen, reflects the power of one! Click here to see the video of this spectacular show of strength!


I have included some very interesting links in the Footnotes section that outline the facts concerning the massacre. A large part of substantiated facts come from declassified cables sent by the US Embassy in Beijing to the State Department in Washington.

Footnotes:

Unclassified US State Department Telegram detailing the massacre

The Declassified History - A National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book

Images Courtesy - Today's pictures

Digital Archives -



32 comments:

  1. I don't know how people could do this to themselves. That American embassy report was shocking. Even after they agreed to leave, they were pursued by the tanks. Shocking.

    Destination Infinity

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  2. It IS So Bad !! How Can A Human Do It To Another Human !! Sad...

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  3. Good job Rakesh.. That's quite a bit of research.. I didn't know about this until yesterday.. Thanks for sharing..

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  4. We had watched this in 1989, on the television and had first been awed by their courage and determination and then shocked and horrified by what followed. We must never forget this!
    Thanks for this informative post. Let me read the links.

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  5. Thanks for the info. Honestly and sheepishly, I never knew about such an incident. Yet to read the links.

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  6. America speaks about Human Rights .......... God Bless America !!! Lol....

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  7. Good post, appreciate the research that has gone into making it.

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  8. Great reminder, Rak

    and you perhaps know the Chinese government made the families of those involved in the protest to pay the cost of public assets destroyed!

    Well, thats China.....think of our Achudanandan, Pinarayi and team!!

    oh, i am off in a different direction....Social responsibility is far from spending money!

    wishes,
    devika

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  9. i think v c such things everyday in india...mayb not a massacre of d physical form but certainly a massacre of everythin right

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  10. Thanks for sharing this info Rakesh. I'll take a look at the links now.

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  11. This shows one dark sides of communism. Its ruthless act, one could hardly or not believe or imagine. Thanks for reminding.

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  12. thanx for sharing the info...
    i never knew that.

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  13. The last photo is certainly one of the most incredible and the most published photos ever!

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  14. Its not complete without the "tank man"~

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  15. DI

    I kinda wonder too! The Chinese have always been merciless in quelling any rebellion or challenge to the ideology!

    Rakesh

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  16. Bharath K

    It surely is very bad, I wonder too, as to how more worse human beings can get to themselves!

    Rakesh

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  17. Mohsin

    Thanks very much! This is something that I've long wanted to write about! Concise and candid that is

    Rakesh

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  18. IHM

    Yes, as a child I remember this incident and the shock associated with it!
    Hard to forget!

    Rakesh

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  19. Vimmuuu

    Happens, not all of us follow everything! Interests vary! I'm sure I know zilch about music!

    Rakesh

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  20. Devika Chechi

    Thanks very much!

    The Chinese can go to any extent in violating human rights! They are them, of course!

    Its a national shame to have these Indian commies support them at all times, despite 1962 that is!

    Rakesh

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  21. Mayank

    Yes, quite unfortunately, though not at this scale!

    Rakesh

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  22. Bhargav

    Thanks very much! Hope you found those links informative.

    Rakesh

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  23. Jeevan

    Very dark sides of communism and China indeed!
    Quite unimaginable

    Rakesh

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  24. Peter

    Yes, the picture of the Tankman is iconic!

    Rakesh

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  25. Samby

    True, this is never complete without the Tankman!

    Rakesh

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