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| Police surround Tiananmen Square | Police surround Tiananmen Square |
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| Police in China's capital, Beijing, have ringed Tiananmen Square on the 20th anniversary of the violent suppression of student-led protests. | Police in China's capital, Beijing, have ringed Tiananmen Square on the 20th anniversary of the violent suppression of student-led protests. |
| The clampdown comes as international pressure mounts for China to issue a full account of what happened in 1989. | The clampdown comes as international pressure mounts for China to issue a full account of what happened in 1989. |
| China said the US had made "groundless accusations" after Washington called for a listing of those killed. | China said the US had made "groundless accusations" after Washington called for a listing of those killed. |
| Hundreds, possibly thousands, died in the massacre, and open debate on the topic is forbidden in mainland China. | Hundreds, possibly thousands, died in the massacre, and open debate on the topic is forbidden in mainland China. |
| "A China that has made enormous progress economically and is emerging to take its rightful place in global leadership should examine openly the darker events of its past," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement released on Wednesday. | |
| She said the Beijing government need to "provide a public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, both to learn and to heal". | She said the Beijing government need to "provide a public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, both to learn and to heal". |
| China expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" with Mrs Clinton's comments. | China expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" with Mrs Clinton's comments. |
| "The US remarks, which disregard the facts, make groundless accusations against the Chinese government," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. | "The US remarks, which disregard the facts, make groundless accusations against the Chinese government," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. |
| "We urge the US to put aside its political prejudices and correct its mistakes so as to refrain from undermining bilateral relations. | "We urge the US to put aside its political prejudices and correct its mistakes so as to refrain from undermining bilateral relations. |
| "On the political incident that took place in the 1980s, the party and the government have already reached a conclusion," he said. | "On the political incident that took place in the 1980s, the party and the government have already reached a conclusion," he said. |
| 'Chance to reflect' | 'Chance to reflect' |
| There is very tight security in Beijing, with police stopping foreign journalists reaching the square. | There is very tight security in Beijing, with police stopping foreign journalists reaching the square. |
| Uniformed and plain-clothed officials even stopped TV crews filming the daily flag-raising ceremony at dawn. | Uniformed and plain-clothed officials even stopped TV crews filming the daily flag-raising ceremony at dawn. |
| China... should examine openly the darker events of its past US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Chinese youth discuss Tiananmen Anniversary: Your views | China... should examine openly the darker events of its past US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Chinese youth discuss Tiananmen Anniversary: Your views |
| Many dissidents say they have been told to leave Beijing or are confined to their homes, and plain-clothes police are at the gates of the city's universities to prevent any commemorative events. | Many dissidents say they have been told to leave Beijing or are confined to their homes, and plain-clothes police are at the gates of the city's universities to prevent any commemorative events. |
| Even in Hong Kong, where freedom of expression is guaranteed, some dissidents have been denied entry. | Even in Hong Kong, where freedom of expression is guaranteed, some dissidents have been denied entry. |
| Mrs Clinton said in her statement that the anniversary was a chance for China to "reflect upon the meaning of the events that preceded that day". | Mrs Clinton said in her statement that the anniversary was a chance for China to "reflect upon the meaning of the events that preceded that day". |
| "China can honour the memory of that day by moving to give the rule of law, protection of internationally-recognised human rights and democratic development the same priority it has given to economic reform," she added. | "China can honour the memory of that day by moving to give the rule of law, protection of internationally-recognised human rights and democratic development the same priority it has given to economic reform," she added. |
| Mrs Clinton's views were echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who said that while China had made "big improvements in economic and social rights" since the Tiananmen crackdown, progress on political and civil rights had been "far slower". | Mrs Clinton's views were echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who said that while China had made "big improvements in economic and social rights" since the Tiananmen crackdown, progress on political and civil rights had been "far slower". |
| Discussion banned | Discussion banned |
| Michael Bristow, BBC reporter in Beijing At first glance, it looked like any other day on Tiananmen Square this morning. The square was full of people, including those on Chinese tour groups. They were easily identifiable by their identical baseball hats. | Michael Bristow, BBC reporter in Beijing At first glance, it looked like any other day on Tiananmen Square this morning. The square was full of people, including those on Chinese tour groups. They were easily identifiable by their identical baseball hats. |
| But a closer look revealed it was no ordinary day. The square was teaming with both uniformed and plainclothes security officials. Journalists banned from square | But a closer look revealed it was no ordinary day. The square was teaming with both uniformed and plainclothes security officials. Journalists banned from square |
| The statement from Mrs Clinton represents a tougher line than the Obama administration has taken so far when addressing China's human rights record, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington. | The statement from Mrs Clinton represents a tougher line than the Obama administration has taken so far when addressing China's human rights record, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington. |
| She says Mrs Clinton had disappointed activists at the start of her tenure by saying human rights should not interfere in discussions with China about other issues, like climate change and North Korea. | She says Mrs Clinton had disappointed activists at the start of her tenure by saying human rights should not interfere in discussions with China about other issues, like climate change and North Korea. |
| The Chinese Communist Party has never held an official inquiry into what happened in and around the square 20 years ago, and discussion of the issue is banned on the mainland. | The Chinese Communist Party has never held an official inquiry into what happened in and around the square 20 years ago, and discussion of the issue is banned on the mainland. |
| The Tiananmen protests started in Spring 1989, when students began calling for greater democracy and anti-corruption measures. | The Tiananmen protests started in Spring 1989, when students began calling for greater democracy and anti-corruption measures. |
| After weeks of protests, troops moved in on the night of 3-4 June 1989. | After weeks of protests, troops moved in on the night of 3-4 June 1989. |
| Denied entry | Denied entry |
| One of the most prominent Tiananmen protest leaders, Wu'er Kaixi, has returned to his home in Taiwan after being turned away from Macau where he was trying to enter mainland China. | One of the most prominent Tiananmen protest leaders, Wu'er Kaixi, has returned to his home in Taiwan after being turned away from Macau where he was trying to enter mainland China. |
| "I'm sad the dream is not yet realised, that justice has not been done, that I cannot see my parents [whom he last saw before he fled China in 1989]. I'm sad and angry," he told the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taiwan. | "I'm sad the dream is not yet realised, that justice has not been done, that I cannot see my parents [whom he last saw before he fled China in 1989]. I'm sad and angry," he told the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taiwan. |
| Wu'er Kaixi gained national attention as a pyjama-clad hunger striker interrupting then-Premier Li Peng during a televised meeting before the violent crackdown. | Wu'er Kaixi gained national attention as a pyjama-clad hunger striker interrupting then-Premier Li Peng during a televised meeting before the violent crackdown. |
| Hong Kong, with its separate legal and political system, is the only Chinese territory due to hold a commemoration, with a candlelight vigil scheduled for later Thursday. | Hong Kong, with its separate legal and political system, is the only Chinese territory due to hold a commemoration, with a candlelight vigil scheduled for later Thursday. |