Student movements changed since the 1989 student protests in China
By Marnie Suss
June 4, 2008

June 4 marks the 19th anniversary for the pro-democracy protests in China. The AP estimates that 130 people are still jailed for their participation in the in the protests held in Tiananmen Square. In the 1989 protests, hundreds of people, mostly students, were killed by the military’s attempt to halt opposition. Some are serving life sentences “on charges of organizing people to oppose the soldiers or taking part in acts such as the burning of police or army vehicles during the crackdown,” the AP reports.

In Tiananmen Square, Chinese police patrolled the site, searching bags and monitoring visitors said USA Today. There were no scheduled ceremonies in the square to commemorate the protests. The Wall Street Journal notes a contrast of Chinese college students today to those of the 1989 protests. “China's college students today are more likely to favor nationalistic causes and work within the one-party system. The patriotism that drove young people to criticize authorities in the 1980s is now seen by many students as best expressed by supporting China's leadership for the progress it has achieved in expanding China's economy and raising its international profile.”

Students today usually rally against foreign criticisms of their government, a change from the anti-government movements in the 1980s. The WSJ said, “China's students today aren't especially antiestablishment or openly critical of authority -- a product both of their own experiences and of an active effort by Communist Party leaders to better shape and co-opt student opinions.” The events of June 4 are not included in the school curriculum in China.

Ruth Cherrington, author of “China’s Students: Struggle for Democracy,” argues that students today also have a lot more “economic incentive to stay with the present brand of patriotism." The WSJ report suggests that many students feel the Western world does not understand their country. One student said, “unlike in the West, we don't stand on a higher plane and spot problems with democracy and human rights in other places," he says. "You have your values, we have ours."

References:

AP: Rights group to China: Release Tiananmen prisoners

USA Today: China urged to free Tiananmen prisoners on anniversary

Wall Street Journal: Chinese Students Rally, but Often In Support of Government

www.ccd21.org