On June 3, Executive Director John Kamm delivered a speech at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco before nearly 100 attendees entitled, “How Tiananmen Changed China,” twenty years after the June Fourth crackdown at Tiananmen Square brought an end to pro-democracy demonstrations. (Listen to or read the speech.) Touching on his work and the efforts of Dui Hua to help free June Fourth prisoners, Kamm examined how the Chinese government’s response to Tiananmen has affected its handling of dissent as well as China’s global image and relations with other countries. He also pointed out how the events of twenty years ago had an impact on the country’s economic development and led to the emergence of a human rights consciousness in China.
After his talk, Kamm fielded several questions, including on what may have been a more appropriate response by Chinese leaders to the movement on Tiananmen Square; the significance of local elections in China as a fledgling exercise in democracy; and how Hong Kong, which has actively protected free expression and dissent, has faced this controversial anniversary as a territory officially under Beijing’s administration.
The speech was entered into the record of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s hearing on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.
The program was co-sponsored by the Commonwealth Club and the Asia Society of Northern California.
Related Link:
Posts
