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Written out of history but not forgotten: China bids farewell to Zhao Ziyang
posted Sunday, 30 January 2005
After much speculation, and increasing tension, China has laid former party head Zhao Yihang to rest. Though questions still remain over the governments handling of the affair, which was far more subdued than the grandiose affairs thrown for other former party heads and was not the state funeral requested by his family.
A quiet Affair
Like the last 15 years of his life, which were spent under indefinite house arrest, Zhao’s death and funeral were quiet affairs. Plans for the funeral and memorial service were not released to the Chinese public, initial reports of his death carried no obituary, and no eulogy was read at his funeral.
A official, Beijing approved, obituary published on Saturday, in tandem with his funeral and two weeks after the announcement of his death, accused Zhao of making ‘serious mistakes’ in relation to the 1989 democracy movement but, as is standard when speaking of Zhao, contained no details as to the nature of his mistakes.
Information on the exact nature of his ‘serious mistakes’ is also scant in Chinese history books.
Public displays of mourning for Zhao have been officially ‘discouraged’ with several violent incidents erupting when police tried to disperse supporters in the capital. It was reported that several hundred extra police were deployed around Zhao’s memorial service to keep protesters and supporters to a minimum.
University campuses are also reported to have put on extra security to prevent show of mourning from students.
In order to slow the spread of news of Zhao’s death notification was originally released in print only, and was not broadcast on Chinese or English language television and radio stations in China. Prior to his funeral, most posts regarding Zhao and his death were erased from public Chinese languages bulletin boards.
It is thought unlikely that Zhao’s funeral will be included in any depth in official publications.
Guest List
The guest list for Zhao’s funeral contained a few notable attendees, but was more notable for those who were absent.
Present
The Chinese government was represented at Zhao’s funeral by Jia Qinglin, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and China’s number 4 leader.
A number of other senior officials were also present, but no firm details are available. It is believed that neither President Hu Jintao or Premier Wen Jiabao attended the funeral.
Their attendance could have been seen as official recognition of Zhao, who has been denied recognition, and has largely been erased from official historical and political records since his removal as party chief.
Absent
In all only 2000 carefully screen guests were permitted to attend Zhao’s funeral. The total number of those turned away or prevented from attending is not known, but some of the names on the list of non attendees are is not wholly unexpected and include party critics, intellectuals and supporters of the 1898 pro democracy movement.
Bao Tong, Secretary to Zhao Yihang at the time of the 1989 democracy movement.
Ding Zilin: A spokesperson for the mothers of those killed during the ‘suppression’ of 1989 democracy movement.
Jiang Yanyong: A military surgeon who petitioned the government to admit to failings over the ‘suppression’ of the 1989 democracy movement.
Liu Xiaobo: An intellectual who lead a hunger strike in support of the 1989 democracy movement.
Ren Wanding: Activist
Wang Lingyun: The mother of a student leader killed during the 1989 democracy movement.
Security guards checked the identification of all guests at the entrance to the service, and reporters who attended the funeral with invitations issued by Zhao’s family were turned away, though many had anticipated that this would be the case.
Final Resting Place
Zhao’s family requested that his ashes be interned in a section Babaosha cemetery reserved for state leaders, but it is thought unlikely that this request will be granted by the current government.
Zhao’s relatives had earlier announced that they would take the urn containing his ashes home if he was not allowed official recognition as a state leader in Babaosha cemetery. It is not known if they have been permitted to do this.
Zhao’s final resting place has the potential to become a focus for his supporters, and there are suggestions that his internment in a shrine or monument that was outside government control could provide his supporters with a meeting place or potential protest site.
After his death, Zhao's home became the focus for mourners, until security guards were instructed to turn people away.
A quiet Affair
Like the last 15 years of his life, which were spent under indefinite house arrest, Zhao’s death and funeral were quiet affairs. Plans for the funeral and memorial service were not released to the Chinese public, initial reports of his death carried no obituary, and no eulogy was read at his funeral.
A official, Beijing approved, obituary published on Saturday, in tandem with his funeral and two weeks after the announcement of his death, accused Zhao of making ‘serious mistakes’ in relation to the 1989 democracy movement but, as is standard when speaking of Zhao, contained no details as to the nature of his mistakes.
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"During the political disturbance, which occurred in the spring and
summer period of 1989, Comrade Zhao Ziyang made serious mistakes," Obituary, Zhao Ziyang. |
Information on the exact nature of his ‘serious mistakes’ is also scant in Chinese history books.
Public displays of mourning for Zhao have been officially ‘discouraged’ with several violent incidents erupting when police tried to disperse supporters in the capital. It was reported that several hundred extra police were deployed around Zhao’s memorial service to keep protesters and supporters to a minimum.
University campuses are also reported to have put on extra security to prevent show of mourning from students.
In order to slow the spread of news of Zhao’s death notification was originally released in print only, and was not broadcast on Chinese or English language television and radio stations in China. Prior to his funeral, most posts regarding Zhao and his death were erased from public Chinese languages bulletin boards.
It is thought unlikely that Zhao’s funeral will be included in any depth in official publications.
Guest List
The guest list for Zhao’s funeral contained a few notable attendees, but was more notable for those who were absent.
Present
The Chinese government was represented at Zhao’s funeral by Jia Qinglin, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and China’s number 4 leader.
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|
"[Jia Qinglin attended the event] on behalf of the leaders of the central authorities” Xinhua |
A number of other senior officials were also present, but no firm details are available. It is believed that neither President Hu Jintao or Premier Wen Jiabao attended the funeral.
Their attendance could have been seen as official recognition of Zhao, who has been denied recognition, and has largely been erased from official historical and political records since his removal as party chief.
Absent
In all only 2000 carefully screen guests were permitted to attend Zhao’s funeral. The total number of those turned away or prevented from attending is not known, but some of the names on the list of non attendees are is not wholly unexpected and include party critics, intellectuals and supporters of the 1898 pro democracy movement.
Bao Tong, Secretary to Zhao Yihang at the time of the 1989 democracy movement.
Ding Zilin: A spokesperson for the mothers of those killed during the ‘suppression’ of 1989 democracy movement.
Jiang Yanyong: A military surgeon who petitioned the government to admit to failings over the ‘suppression’ of the 1989 democracy movement.
Liu Xiaobo: An intellectual who lead a hunger strike in support of the 1989 democracy movement.
Ren Wanding: Activist
Wang Lingyun: The mother of a student leader killed during the 1989 democracy movement.
Security guards checked the identification of all guests at the entrance to the service, and reporters who attended the funeral with invitations issued by Zhao’s family were turned away, though many had anticipated that this would be the case.
Final Resting Place
Zhao’s family requested that his ashes be interned in a section Babaosha cemetery reserved for state leaders, but it is thought unlikely that this request will be granted by the current government.
Zhao’s relatives had earlier announced that they would take the urn containing his ashes home if he was not allowed official recognition as a state leader in Babaosha cemetery. It is not known if they have been permitted to do this.
Zhao’s final resting place has the potential to become a focus for his supporters, and there are suggestions that his internment in a shrine or monument that was outside government control could provide his supporters with a meeting place or potential protest site.
After his death, Zhao's home became the focus for mourners, until security guards were instructed to turn people away.
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