Mainland China was moving toward reforms and liberalization, and that year the Communist Party general secretary Hu Yaobang, a key reformer, had passed away. In response, large groups of students gathered on Tiananmen Square, calling for democracy, freedom and human rights. It was a moving scene of great collective passion, but when gunshots rang out, it quickly turned to tragedy. Many students were killed or wounded, and the images of tanks rumbling across the square would shock the world.
When the news hit Taiwan, it likewise engendered great anguish. Citizens here organized a series of large-scale events and demonstrations to show their solidarity with mainland protestors. At this moment of great suffering, major stars such as the Little Tigers and Jonathan Lee got together to record the song “Wound of History” to demonstrate their support for the mainland students.
For that issue, Sinorama tossed aside its original cover story and replaced it with the report “Journey to Tiananmen.” Numerous photos taken in Beijing demonstrated the true pain and suffering of the moment. Sinorama also interviewed many reporters from Taiwan who were on the scene and who shared their thoughts on the protests and the events of June 4.
What happened on Tiananmen that day—and even the simple numbers of its date—are an open secret that still cannot be mentioned publicly on the mainland. For those of us who were living in Taiwan back then, our thoughts were well captured by the opening words of Sinorama’s report: “The search for a better life has always been a fundamental precept for humanity. But only in a truly free, truly democratic society can this precept be something more than a myth.”
History will forever remember the sacrifices that the students made at Tiananmen Square in the fight for freedom and democracy.
History will forever remember the sacrifices that the students made at Tiananmen Square in the fight for freedom and democracy.
History will forever remember the sacrifices that the students made at Tiananmen Square in the fight for freedom and democracy.
History will forever remember the sacrifices that the students made at Tiananmen Square in the fight for freedom and democracy.
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)
