Former student leader Wu Erkaishi addressed approximately 200 people [2] during a memorial gathering in Tokyo on June 3 to mark the 37th anniversary [1] of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.
The event serves as a rare public forum for discussing the 1989 military action, as the topic remains strictly censored within mainland China. By holding the gathering in Japan, organizers and participants aim to preserve the historical memory of the victims, and maintain international pressure for accountability.
Organized by human-rights groups, the memorial brought together a diverse group of attendees to remember those who died during the crackdown. Wu Erkaishi, who was a prominent figure in the original student protests, spoke about the necessity of remembrance as a tool for endurance.
"Remembering is the smallest form of resistance for those who have been oppressed," Wu said. "Protecting the memory together is our resistance."
Wu further addressed the psychological battle against authoritarianism during the event. He said that the thing dictators want most is for people to lose hope.
The gathering also highlighted the ongoing risks faced by activists, particularly those with ties to Hong Kong. One participant, who was born in Hong Kong and requested anonymity, expressed fear regarding potential repercussions upon returning home.
"When I return to Hong Kong, there is anxiety that something like an arrest might happen," the participant said. "However, even if there are risks, I want to persevere in believing what is right."
The event concluded with calls to ensure the events of 1989 are not erased from history, emphasizing that the act of remembering is a political statement in itself.
“"Remembering is the smallest form of resistance for those who have been oppressed."”
The persistence of these memorials in Tokyo underscores the role of the Japanese diaspora and international allies in maintaining a historical record that the Chinese government actively suppresses. The specific mention of fear regarding returns to Hong Kong reflects the expanded reach of national security laws, suggesting that political expression regarding Tiananmen now carries legal risks for Hong Kong residents even when that expression occurs outside of Chinese territory.
