Hello, Mr Democracy

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 18

Hello, Mr Democracy

If you have watched television reports of the recent Chinese demonstrations you may have noticed that many protestors carried posters with English slogans or showing the influence of Western ideas. Some placards said things like "Hello, Mr Democracy.” Models of a democracy “goddess” that looked a bit like the American Statue of Liberty were also displayed. At first it may seem strange that . Chinese students should carry English messages, but they knew their purpose. English is an international language. The demonstrators knew that if they

1 wrote in English their a messages would be seen - and understood in many a parts of the world. Communications i systems, such as television - transmission, particularly - by satellite, mean that s ideas now travel very r quickly. The demonstrati ing Chinese students are t part of a world-wide a movement. A desire for more openness in government and greater demoi cracy is now showing it- ; self in many countries. i Events in the Soviet t Union and Poland are examples of other places 1 where these sort of de- ■ mands are also being ' made.

China — Time Line Mid April — Thousands of Peking students demonstrate by marching in the streets. They want more democracy (say in the running of the country) fewer special privileges (pay, housing, holidays) for senior state officials and a crackdown on dishonest Government workers. May 4-13 — Students from 40 Peking colleges march to Tiananmen Square. Thousands of workers join the protest. Police and military take no real action against them. Protestors stay in the square. May 19 — Martial (military) law declared; soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army surround Peking. More than 20,000 students continue

camping in Tiananmen Square; many on hunger strike. Students in other cities also protesting. June 3 — Troops begin shooting on the streets; thousands killed and wounded. The army seems divided between soldiers who support demonstrators and those who want to crush them. June 5 — Situation confusing. Civil war likely. June 10 — Deng Xiaoping back in control. Pro-demo-cracy protesters arrested. June 11 — Purge continues in Peking. Shanghai, China’s largest city becomes the focus of Pro-democracy demonstrations.

Activities ( (1) Complete this line from early June to the present. Paste into your scrapbook and continue as ( events develop. (2) Role Play Imagine you are the New Zealand Prime Minister or one of the leaders on this page. Make suggestions to the Chinese leaders on what you think they should do. (3) News Up Date Turn to the international page in “The Press.” Summarise the news about China into five to seven sentences. Present your summary as a radio or television report.

(4) Draw a map of China, showing the places mentioned in the news, plus the main cities, rivers and relief features. (5) How have people in New Zealand reacted to events in China? Consider the following groups: (a) Politicians. (b) The Chinese community (including visiting students). (c) New Zealand citizens. (d) Farmers — New Zealand has a big trade — in wool with China. (e) Industrialists — Follow what happens to Minmetals purchase of New Zealand Steel.