On June 4, 1989, a massacre that shocked the world took place in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Thirty-six years have passed, yet this chapter of history remains an unhealed wound in Chinese society. Every year at this time, countless people commemorate the victims in various ways, demanding truth, accountability, and compensation. This year, the “Tiananmen Mothers”—a group of families of June Fourth victims—have once again issued a memorial statement, steadfastly pursuing justice, calling for dialogue with the government, and emphasizing that political issues must be resolved through legal means.
The Perseverance and Appeals of the Tiananmen Mothers
In 2025, the Tiananmen Mothers stated in their 36th anniversary memorial that over the past 36 years, the families of the victims have weathered storms and hardships, with many families torn apart by the loss of loved ones. In just the past year, several members have passed away, leaving this world with longing and sorrow for their relatives. This pain belongs not only to them, but is also an indelible historical burden for all the people of China.
The memorial reiterates the three major demands first raised in the 1990s:
– Publicly disclose the truth about the June Fourth massacre and the list of victims
– Provide compensation according to law
– Hold those responsible legally accountable
They call on the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to establish an independent investigation committee, make the findings public, and pass a compensation bill so that victims and families receive due redress, while holding those responsible criminally accountable in accordance with the law.
The Tiananmen Mothers emphasize that resolving the June Fourth issue depends on political reform and systemic transformation, which requires dialogue and negotiation between the authorities and the people. They believe that initiating dialogue is the beginning of resolving historical issues and will help China move toward a new era free from the heavy burdens of the past.
Passing Down Memory: Remembrance and Resistance at Home and Abroad
In the past, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China held annual candlelight vigils in Victoria Park to remind the world not to forget June Fourth and to urge the Chinese Communist regime to face history. Even though the candlelight in Victoria Park has been forcibly extinguished for several years, Hongkongers overseas and those still in Hong Kong continue to commemorate June Fourth and insist on holding the Chinese authorities accountable in various ways. This blood debt will be passed down from generation to generation, becoming part of the collective memory of Chinese and Hong Kong people.
This year, former Alliance Standing Committee member Tsui Hon Kwong called on Hongkongers in the UK to pass on the memory to the next generation, emphasizing, “The life of tyranny will not last forever; it will end one day.” In Hong Kong, former Alliance vice-chairperson Chow Hang-tung commemorated June Fourth with a 36-hour hunger strike, encouraging Hongkongers to hold onto their beliefs and not forget history, even under pressure.
Suppression by the Chinese Authorities and Indifference to International Questions
For thirty-six years, the Chinese Communist regime has consistently refused to acknowledge the June Fourth massacre, blocking information and controlling public opinion domestically, while dismissing international criticism with claims that “the Party and the state have already reached a conclusion.” Members of the Tiananmen Mothers have endured long-term surveillance and harassment, but they remain unafraid and vow to seek justice for their loved ones. As Zhang Xianling said: “Though the candlelight in Victoria Park has been blown out by fierce winds, the spark of justice will burn in the hearts of all people of conscience. We will always keep our promise: speak the truth, refuse to forget, seek justice, and call for conscience!”
On the international stage, China has never issued a substantive apology, admitted wrongdoing, or provided compensation in response to questions from the United Nations and most countries about the June Fourth crackdown, the Jasmine Revolution, the 709 crackdown, or the 2019 Hong Kong movement. This reflects the Chinese government’s indifference in international politics and highlights the difficulties faced by China’s democracy activists.
The Spirit of June Fourth: From Beijing to Hong Kong and the World
June Fourth is not only a call for democracy and anti-corruption, but also a demand for justice and humanity in Chinese society. From the democracy movement of the 1990s, the Charter 08 movement in the 2000s, to the 2019 Hong Kong protests, the Chinese government’s intolerance of dissent and suppression of justice has never changed. Chinese people at home and abroad, as well as Hongkongers, will not
forget this bloody history or give up the pursuit of justice.
Transitional Justice and the Path of Legal Resolution
This year, the Tiananmen Mothers especially emphasized that the June Fourth issue must be resolved through legislative and judicial procedures, which is a core value of transitional justice as believed by the Sentinel Defenders Network. Political problems must be solved by legal means to truly restore history, heal wounds, and hold those responsible to account. This is the necessary path for Chinese society to move toward modern rule of law and democracy, and the shared hope of all victims’ families and people of conscience.
The Flame of Justice Will Not Be Extinguished, the Blood Debt Must Be Settled
For thirty-six years, the souls of the June Fourth victims have not rested, and the voices of their families have not ceased. No matter how the authorities block the truth or suppress remembrance, the memory of history and the call for justice will cross time and space and be passed down through generations. The blood debt of June Fourth will not be forgotten as time passes; the spark of justice will burn in the hearts of all people of conscience in China and around the world, until the day the truth is revealed, responsibility is clarified, and history is finally redressed.
“Speak the truth, refuse to forget, seek justice, call for conscience!” — Tiananmen Mothers
Chakra Ip
Sentinel Defenders Network
