EU remembers 35th anniversary of Tiananmen massacre and criticizes restrictions on commemorations

BRUSSELS, June 4 (EUROPA PRESS) – The European Union had words of remembrance this Tuesday for the victims of the Tiananmen massacre in China, on the 35th anniversary of this violent episode, while criticizing Beijing’s restrictions to the commemorations that highlight the lack of freedoms in the Asian giant.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests in 1989, the Foreign Action Service has stressed that “remembering the events and honoring those who died, were detained or disappeared is crucial for future generations and collective memory.”

In this sense, he criticizes the attitude of the Chinese authorities to “restrict commemorations and censor debates on Tiananmen Square in Hong Kong and elsewhere.” “It is of concern to the EU as it highlights the challenges faced by those defending human rights and fundamental freedoms in China,” he added.

Community diplomacy in this context calls on the Chinese authorities to recognize these facts and take concrete measures to demand accountability for the Tiananmen massacre, insisting that it will maintain its commitment to promoting human rights and freedoms in China through dialogue and cooperation. with Beijing.

Human rights organizations estimate that hundreds, possibly thousands, of people died in and around Tiananmen Square in the Chinese capital on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire on students and workers who had peacefully called for political and economic reforms. , as well as the end of corruption. Tens of thousands were arrested across China in the crackdown that followed over the next few years.