Press Conference： June 4th 34th Anniversary Memorial Vigil and the Contemporary Democracy Art Exhibition

The press conference announced this year’s programme marking 34 years since June 4th, held under the theme “defending democracy against authoritarian expansion, gathering sparks to uphold freedom.” It set out the running order for the memorial vigil, the 3D Pillar of Shame initiative, the first Taiwan International Democratic Film Festival, the memorial pavilion on Liberty Square, the “Remembering June 4th: Online Memorial” website, and the contemporary democracy art exhibition History Turned a Corner Here.

Remarks

New School for Democracy chair Tseng Chien-yuan (曾建元) stressed that in recent years the Chinese Communist Party has systematically violated the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians and other minorities to a degree approaching genocide, and that political dissidents, intellectuals, journalists and lawyers who challenge one-party rule — along with ordinary citizens who simply believe in freedom and democracy — have all become targets of suppression and surveillance. The Party, he said, has never departed from its authoritarian path since June 4th, and Taipei’s vigil is a front line where democracy stands against authoritarian expansion.

Shih Yi-hsiang, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, said that anyone still claiming June 4th has nothing to do with Taiwan is speaking selfishly and without any consciousness of human rights. With the CCP continuing crimes against humanity amounting to genocide in Xinjiang’s re-education camps, and human rights in Hong Kong in continuing retreat, Taiwan’s June 4th vigil is no longer only commemoration but part of a struggle by democracy and human rights against a totalitarianism turned against humanity — one Taiwan cannot stand apart from.

E-ling Chiu, Secretary-General of Amnesty International Taiwan, noted that although Beijing has repeatedly used pandemic measures and the National Security Law to restrict commemoration in Hong Kong, more and more young people are taking part in Taiwan, and voices of concern for June 4th will not be extinguished. Tashi Tsering of the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan recalled that when students protested in 1989 they believed the Party might change; 34 years on it has not, and he thanked Taiwan for a place where people can still protest.