Press Releases

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Spokesman

For Immediate Release          June 3, 2008

2008/452

Statement by Sean McCormack, Spokesman

Message on the Nineteenth Anniversary of Tiananmen Square

 

Nineteen years have passed since the brutal and tragic events of Tiananmen Square. The time for the Chinese government to provide the fullest possible public accounting of the thousands killed, detained, or missing in the massacre that followed the protests is long overdue. The families of the victims, as well as ordinary Chinese citizens, deserve such an accounting.

We also join others in the international community to urge China to release all those still serving sentences for participating in the nationwide protests. It is estimated that between 50 and 200 Chinese citizens are still languishing in jail. Virtually all of them have served well over half of their sentences and are eligible for parole under Chinese law.

We urge the Chinese government to move forward with a reexamination of Tiananmen, to release all Tiananmen-era prisoners, and to cease harassment of the families of the victims of Tiananmen. These actions, together with steps to protect the internationally recognized fundamental freedoms of Chinese citizens, will help China achieve its goal of projecting a positive image to the world.

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