A Hong Kong student union passed a motion calling on Beijing to
apologize for the killings of pro-democracy demonstrators 20 years ago.
In Hong Kong, Kari Jensen has more.
Two decades after the
Tiananmen Square protests ended in violence, University of Hong Kong
students condemned China's actions and demanded that Beijing take
responsibility.
The students voted ahead of the 20th anniversary
of June 4, when China military quashed pro-democracy demonstrations at
Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds, perhaps thousands of protesters.
The
subject remains taboo in China, but is openly talked about in Hong
Kong, a former British colony that enjoys political freedoms not
tolerated on the mainland.
Jenny Ngai, the Student Union acting
external affairs secretary, is 22. She says young people should learn
about Tiananmen Square.
"The more important matter that is to
really learn about what actually happened and not just listen to what
others say and not just blindly believe in one set of media. In order
to move your country forward, you have to learn about history," she said.
At the University of Hong Kong, almost 93 percent of 2,000 students polled voted in favor of the motion admonishing Beijing.
Hong
Kong is the only Chinese city that tolerates Tiananmen Square protests.
Democracy activists lead an annual candlelight vigil for the
anniversary, which thousands attend.
The pro-democracy protests
that led to Tiananmen Square started after former Communist Party
leader Hu Yaobang died on April 15, 1989. Mr. Hu was forced from
power two years earlier because he favored faster political reforms
than did other party leaders.
As usual in China, the anniversary of Mr. Hu's death passed without public notice this year.
However,
on April 15, Beijing police detained a high-profile Chinese
dissident, Qi Zhiyong, who participated in the Tiananmen Square
protests. Other dissidents also report being under increased scrutiny.
Martin Kok, vice president of the Student Union, says students often lead social movements.
"I think this generation in 2009, we hope to continue our role as a leader in this campaign and pass on the torch," he said.
China
released its first National Human Rights Action Plan this week. Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu says the plan outlines goals and measures
to promote and safeguard human rights in the next two years.
