Tokyo: Chinese and Japanese supporters of democracy in China observed the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre at the Bukyoku Kumin Hall in Tokyo on 4 June 2023. The Chinese Federation for Democracy (Minshu Chugoku Jinsen) organised the anniversary to pay respect to all the victims of the Tiananmen tragedy and to remind the world that the Chinese struggle for democracy is still alive and vibrant.

President of the Chinese Federation for Democracy, Wangdai, welcomed and thanked the participants and the media for their attendance and show of interest and support for the movement. The theme of the anniversary’s function was “Let’s not forget the Tiananmen Square massacre”.

Zhou Fengsuo, a Chinese human rights activist and a former student leader during the Tiananmen Square protest of 1989, has come from the USA for the anniversary and delivered an hour-long talk on the Tiananmen tragedy and how the Chinese communist leaders brutally massacred the young protesters. He said he is happy to be in Japan, a free country, where he can express freely and speak for freedom and democracy. Xi Jinping talks of national security and increases defence spending in fact for his protection and the Communist regime. He thanked the organisers and Japan for providing him with a platform to further the voice of the young Chinese students who sacrificed their lives for the democratisation of China.

Representative Dr Arya Tsewang Gyalpo of the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked the organisers for the opportunity to speak on occasion. He expressed the Tibetan community’s solidarity with the Chinese people in their quest and struggle for freedom and democracy. He explained that the Tibetans are not anti-Chinese as projected by the Communist leadership and informed the gist of the Middle Way Approach and how the proposal is within the framework of the Chinese constitution. He further added that it is very important to remember people like Liu Xiaobo, the 2010 Nobel Peace Laureate, who sacrificed his life for democracy in China.

The Tibet House staff Tselha who accompanied the Representative distributed copies of the book “Tibet Needs Your Help” to the audience.

Members and representatives of Uyghur, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Falun Gong communities spoke on the brutality of the CCP regime and how human rights, democracy, and universal values are being undermined and violated by the CCP leadership. They appealed to the international community to support their movement for freedom and democracy and urged China to stop its repressive policy in the land and the occupied regions.

A good number of press reporters covered the anniversary. A press conference was held at the end of the anniversary function.

Members of the Chinese Democracy Movement and their supporters protested before the Chinese Embassy on that morning. A Candlelight vigil was also held at Shinjuku Park in the evening to highlight the importance of the anniversary and to appeal to the public not to forget the Tiananmen Square tragedy.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Japan