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Hillary Clinton asks China to account for the deaths in Tiananmen

by Amy Judd | June 3, 2009 at 05:59 pm

168 views | 36 Recommendations | 3 comments

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has asked China to account for the deaths in the Tiananmen Square protests 20 years ago on the anniversary of the tragic event.

Clinton said that China should release those who are still in jail and should not harrass anyone who took part.

It is thought that hundreds and even thousands of people died 20 years ago, and security in Beijing is very tight on the anniversary. Foreign journalists are not allowed to enter the square or film the flag ceremony and even some people in Hong Kong have been denied entry.

Clinton said that this was an opportunity though for China to reflect on the meaning of what happened two decades ago.

She said China "should examine openly the darker events of its past and provide a public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, both to learn and to heal."

"China can honour the memory of that day by moving to give the rule of law, protection of internationally-recognised human rights, and democratic development the same priority as it has given to economic reform," she added.

This is a tougher stance on the matter than has been seen so far from the US towards China.

The Chinese Communist Party has never held an inquiry into what happened 20 years ago and even a discussion of the issue is banned.

Police are cracking down on people in Beijing now however, and are checking bags and IDs of everyone.

Ding Zilin, the head of a group called Tiananmen Mothers - made up of women whose children were shot dead in the crackdown - has reportedly been blocked from leaving her home, as has the wife of jailed dissident Hu Jia.

Even Ai Weiwei, the architect of Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium has had three of his blogs blocked.

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jazzyzazzy

at 23:19 on June 3rd, 2009

The problem is that none of these politicians really live in the peoples world.power hungry ego maniacs all go together like birds of a feather. One is as bad as the other wither they be in china india or never never land.

Paschen

at 21:01 on June 3rd, 2009

She should be careful, China may ask the US to account for a lot of death in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo bay , Palestine, Lebanon and even with in the Americas. The UN can ask such a thing, however the US is in no position to point fingers.

Tamiya

at 21:47 on June 3rd, 2009

China needs to stop supporting genocides around the world.

Darfur and now Sri Lanka, and if let it go without any consequences, it will continue to support genocides around the world to gain its own agenda.

US did elect Bush (twice!!), but Obama is at least trying to get things straighten up with the previous mistakes of 8 years. Hopefully, things get better for US so that it can reasonably lead a better position in human rights.