Political Opposition

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Political Opposition

• The Communist party does not tolerate opposition
  although occasionally criticism has been allowed
• 1957, Mao Zedong launched the Hundred Flowers
  Campaign
• The people were told to voice their opinions but
  it led to massive protests
• Quickly abandoned and people were persecuted

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1970s, Deng Xiaoping wrote the four big freedoms,
freedom of speech, press, meetings and freedom to
write posters

• Once again the Communist system was criticised
  and a crackdown was ordered, rights removed from
  the constitution
• In 1989 thousands of students occupied Tiananmen
  square

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Tiananmen Square

• Tiananmen square is in front of the forbidden
  city which is where the government is
• The protest was about democracy, unemployment and
  inflation and the growing gap between rich and
  poor

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Tiananmen Square

• Many Communist party officials had used their
  powerful position to become wealthy.
• Many had been involved in corruption
• The protesters wanted more open government and an
  end to corruption

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On the 31 May, 1989 students built the Goddess
of Democracy it faced the Forbidden Palace, this
was a challenge to the Communist government

• 4th of June, the gov ordered the army to attack
  the demonstrators
• Armed vehicles opened fire on the demonstrators
• Approximately 2000 people were killed and 10,000
  injured
• The gov. said that only 200 were killed and 3,000
  injured

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The government imposed martial law, anyone
considered to be a political enemy was removed
from their job

• 350,000 people were disciplined, 2,500 were
  arrested, 24 were executed
• Public trials were held to prevent further
  demonstrations

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The government claimed that the demonstrators
were trying to overthrow the Communist government

• Some people disappeared after the event
• Others were tortured to get confessions
• All students in 1st year at Beijing University
  were sent to a military camp