The sister of the late mainland Tiananmen activist Li Wangyang has thanked Hong Kong people for continuing to demand justice for Tiananmen Massacre victims after 29 years.
Li Wangyang, a workers’ rights activist from Shaoyang, was jailed for 22 years after taking part in the 1989 democracy movement. He was blind and deaf when he was released from jail. The mysterious circumstances surrounding his death in 2012 further made him a symbol of injustice under the Chinese government.
The pro-democracy Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) published a short video of Li’s sister Li Wangling on the anniversary of the massacre on Monday. Li Wangling has been followed, monitored and harassed by mainland authorities ever since her brother’s death in 2012, according to the HKCTU.
【李旺玲給香港人的話】2012年，李旺陽「被自殺」之後，他的妹妹李旺玲一直受到官方的監控。她曾透過媒體申明「不管在什麼時候，什麼情況下，我都不會自殺。」為的，是代兄見證中國的民主化。#平反六四#結束專政
Posted by 職工盟(HKCTU) on Sunday, 3 June 2018
In the video, Li sports a black t-shirt with the Chinese national anthem’s first line – “Arise! All those who don’t want to be slaves!” – printed on it. Li called for the vindication of those who were killed in the massacre.
“I thank Hong Kong compatriots very much for persisting in seeking justice for the victims of June 4th,” she said. “I thank Hong Kong compatriots very much for their concern and support for the civil rights movement in the mainland.”
“Hong Kong, let us fight on together,” she said.
The HKCTU also published a short video of Yin Zhengan, a close friend of Li Wangyang. He bowed twice to thank Hong Kong people for demanding justice for the victims.
【六四廿九】李旺陽，用生命支持八九民運，最終被自殺……李旺陽戰友尹正安感謝香港人二十九年來仍然支持為死難者伸張正義。今天，我們還能夠悼念六四，還能喊著「結束一黨專政」，邀請你繼續與我們守住這份信念。六四燭光悼念集會：今晚八點維園足球場#李旺陽 #尹正安 #六四集會 #維園 #六四廿九 #平反六四 #抗威權 #毋忘六四 #八九民運 #六四屠殺 #June4 #六四 #全球六四紀念
Posted by 職工盟(HKCTU) on Sunday, 3 June 2018
In May 2012, Li Wangyang was interviewed by Hong Kong’s i-Cable television network, whose reporters asked questions by writing words onto his palm and thigh. The interview was broadcast ahead of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre that year.
Shortly afterwards, on June 6, Li was found dead in a hospital room where he was receiving treatment. A white cloth hanging from the window was tied around his neck, while his feet were still touching the ground, his brother-in-law said at the time. Officials said he had committed suicide and cremated his body.
The incident sparked protests in Hong Kong as many believed the “suicide” was staged.
Last year, Li Wangling told Ming Pao that she needed to stay alive in order to witness democracy in China on behalf of her brother.
“I will never commit suicide,” she said.
