Several hundred citizens – including schoolchildren, university students, teachers, professors and retirees – joined last night’s vigil held by the Union for Democratic Development Macau (UMDD) commemorating the 24th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen incident.
About 500 people joined the vigil, down from around 700 a year ago.
Participants lit candles in Largo de S. Domingos in memory of those who perished in the incident. They were also shown video footage about the background and events that led up to that fateful night in Beijing in 1989. Some of them also shared their thoughts and reasons behind taking part of the vigil.
A participant, surnamed Sio, said she joined the vigil with her friends despite her mother disagreeing. The Form 6 pupil said she learnt about the history of the Tiananmen incident in civic education lessons.
“Our teachers want us to know the truth about what really happened. That’s why there’s a lesson about this,” she said, adding that she was “taken aback” when she saw pictures showing the violence that night.
UMDD member-cum-lawmaker Antonio Ng Kuok Cheong told reporters that more and more youngsters had joined the vigil because it was an opportunity to learn about historical events. “June 4 is part of China’s history and also part of our own history. They [participants] are taking part in this vigil… to reflect upon the society we live in,” said Ng, who is seeking re-election in the September 15 election.(macaunews)
