[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 1997

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today we commemorate the eighth 
anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square, and the task of people 
who believe in truth and justice is more difficult than ever before.
  Eight years ago, the world watched in horror as the Chinese military, 
under the direction of General Chi Haotian, rolled into Tiananmen 
Square and gunned down thousands of people--young and old--who had 
gathered in the Square, the heart of China, to peacefully seek reform 
and greater freedoms from their government. In minutes, the hopes and 
dreams of people the world over united in solidarity with the Tiananmen 
Square protesters were destroyed, and millions stood in disbelief that 
any government could unleash such terror on its people while the world 
watched.
  I am sure that Chinese Government officials believed that, in time, 
the world would forget what happened in the early hours of June 4, 
1989. But the spirit of those thousands who died there lives on. Their 
blood cries out so that we will not forget. Our hearts still ache for 
the dead, the injured, the arrested. Mr. Speaker, the world has not 
forgotten the martyrs of Tiananmen Square.
  But there is something going on now that would be even more tragic 
than forgetting the Tiananmen Square Massacre and those who gave their 
lives on that day 8 years ago.
  Now, the Chinese Government does not want us to forget this event 
happened, it wants us to believe that it never happened--that thousands 
of peaceful young people were not shot down in cold blood, that 
hundreds more were not injured. The Chinese Government wants us to 
believe that what we witnessed, what has been reported by observers, is 
a fabrication. A big lie. That instead of innocent students who were 
attacked, it was the People's Liberation Army which was under attack 
and on the defense.
  The Butcher of Beijing, Gen. Chi Haotian, who ordered the troops into 
Tiananmen Square, and who is ultimately responsible for every death, 
every injury, every arrest, is now the Defense Minister of China. Just 
6 months ago, this man was the honored guest of the Clinton 
administration--meeting with the President, given full military honors, 
and addressing top U.S. military officials.
  The civilized world was stunned during his visit when General Chi 
told us that ``not a single person lost his life in Tiananmen Square'' 
and that the People's Liberation Army did nothing more violent than the 
``pushing'' of ``hooligans.''
  But, Mr. Speaker, we know the truth. We know that thousands died and 
more were injured. Witnesses have told of the horrors as people died 
standing up for freedom, democratic reform, and human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, today is not enough for us to just remember. We must 
raise our voices so that the lives and deaths of those martyred in 
Tiananmen Square will not be erased.
  The memory of those who died 8 years ago must burn in our hearts not 
just today but every day. We must not allow their deaths to be in vain. 
We must not allow the deeds of evil people to be rewarded and their 
lies to go unchallenged.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we stand as one, to remember the courage of those 
who gave their lives in Tiananmen Square, and to commit ourselves to 
continue working together to carry on their dreams to bring about a 
free and democratic China.

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