The wound of history: Tiananmen Square massacre

Exactly 20 years have elapsed since the Tiananmen Square Massacre took place on June 4, 1989.

What on earth happened that day? How many people were killed? Hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands? It is still an unsolved mystery, and only the killers with their blood stained hands know best how many victims they slaughtered.

In the olden days, those facing the final chop of execution often died with courage, shouting: "In 20 years, I will be back again, as a new man!"

This Beijing bloodbath, although it secured two more decades of governance for the Chinese Communist Party, sounded the death knell of the global communist movement, breathing its last gasps through the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European Bloc, which finally ended the 40-odd years of the West-East Cold War.

It has been 20 years since the Tiananmen Square Massacre and still all of the questions and doubts remain unanswered.

Are the number people who fight for democracy and human justice in China increasing or decreasing? Is China nearer or further away from democracy? Is the world becoming more secure or more dangerous? Is the human race moving forwards to a better and more just society or is it becoming filled with more conflict and hatred?

It is obvious that the reality is very cruel.

Because of domestic indifference within China, and a lazy ethos of international neo-appeasement, numerous outstanding human rights and democracy-seeking Chinese people have been removed into obscurity by the Communist Party by being placed in jails or reform-through-labour camps: without being acknowledged by the Chinese people, silenced under the iron fists of the Chinese communist regime.

Many Chinese people have started to give up their pursuit for democracy and justice, and capitulated their free voices to accept Chinese totalitarianism, the monster which has morphed into a "generous and wealthy uncle". The monster still remains behind the grinning facade; a monster which is the operator of an iron fist enforcing a degraded morality and complete acquiescence to self interest and participation in the global grab for money.

In short, China has not made any movement towards democracy.

The West, headed by the US, has shown signs of waning, and the 60 years of post-war peace may gradually come to an end. The Australian defence white paper, hiking military spending to prepare for possible military conflicts in the future changing world political structure, is a substantial indicator that the world is becoming more and more unsafe.

September 11 and two wars on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan have also proven that cultural conflict and racial hatred are increasing.

Australia, a medium power and a fully fledged democracy within the Asia Pacific region, should and can make good use of this leverage to play a pivotal role in persuading the Chinese leadership into moving towards a democratic political system.

It is widely acknowledged that economic relations between China and Australia have increased significantly to the benefit of both nations. But I would like to say something different in this regard: the strong economic relations between the two is benefiting Australia and a handful of Chinese leadership and elites, but by no means the powerless Chinese masses.

Australia’s ability to continue to criticise China’s human rights abuses demonstrates courage and morality. The best example was when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addressed Chinese students at Beijing University, speaking in Mandarin, referred to "significant human rights problems in Tibet". His remarks were greatly and gratefully applauded by powerless Chinese people, but of course they embarrassed Chinese leaders.

But the recent closed-door talks with Chinese leaders received strong criticism. A high profile relationship with Communist China can mean temporary economic benefits, but in the long run can ruin both national image and future benefits. Lobbying by the US and other Western democracies to increase China’s influence within the IMF was harmful and it was not a wise move at all.

History repeats, unless we learn from it.

Australia has appeared reluctant to pursue closer political/military ties with China and was once dubbed as “deputy sheriff” of the US for its close alliance with Bush’s “pre-emptive” policy. If one day Australia becomes dubbed as the “deputy Sheriff” of Communist China, the international image of Australia will be severely undermined.

The world needs to be acutely aware of the essence of issues concerning China, and the Chinese people must become acutely aware of the essence of the Chinese Communist Party.

All Chinese, men and women, old and young, should speak out about their sincere hopes and beliefs for justice and democracy, to bring these essential values into political realisations.

A review of the lyrics of The Wound of History - an outcry at the then Chinese leadership, brings a fresh recollection of what happened on June 4, 1989:

Blindfolding us, you expect us to see nothing,
Plugging our ears, you expect us to hear nothing,
Yet the truth is in our heart,
The pain is in our chest,
How much longer do we have to endure?
How much longer do we have to be kept silent?
If tears can wash away all dust,
If blood can exchanged for freedom,
Let tomorrow remember today’s outcry,
Let the world see the wound of history.