NEWS: Ex Chinese Communist Leader Zhao Dies: Opposed Tiananmen Massacre, page 1

posted on Jan, 16 2005 @ 08:33 PM

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The former Chinese Communist Party leader, Zhao Ziyang, has died. Ziyang, who is credited with the series of reforms that launched China's economic boom was 85. However, he had lived the last 15 years under house arrest. His crime? Supporting the demonstrators during the 1989 protests.

story.news.yahoo.com
BEIJING - Zhao Ziyang, the former Chinese Communist Party leader who helped pioneer reforms that launched China's economic boom but was ousted after the 1989 Tiananmen Square prodemocracy protests, died Monday at a Beijing hospital. He was 85.

The cause of death wasn't immediately announced, but the official announcement of Zhao's passing said he suffered from multiple ailments of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The official Xinhua News Agency said he died "after failing to respond to all emergency treatment."

"He was very peaceful," said Frank Lu, a prominent Chinese human rights activist who said he had spoken to Zhao's daughter Wang Yannan. "He was surrounded by all his family."

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Truly a man of principal. He knew that his stance would result in his removal from power, yet he stood by it. He even met with the protesters prior to the butchery that the Chinese government inflicted upon them. No doubt for now in the halls of the Chinese Communist government he remains an un-person, but those on the outside will not forget him or the actions he took.

[edit on 1/16/05 by FredT]

[edit on 1/16/05 by FredT]

Muaddib

posted on Jan, 17 2005 @ 12:39 AM

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Sad day when one of the few men in our world that has really stood up against a dictatorship has died, even if it is by natural causes. If only we had more people like him....

FredT

posted on Jan, 17 2005 @ 01:24 PM

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SHANGHAI, China - While he lived, China's Communist Party considered ousted leader Zhao Ziyang such a potent threat that it kept him under house arrest for 15 years.

After his death, China's leaders face an even tougher challenge: how to give a fallen comrade his due without stirring up support for a figure accused of endangering communist rule in 1989.

Zhao helped launch China's economic boom as then-supreme leader Deng Xiaoping's protege. But after he suggested compromising with pro-democracy protesters on Tiananmen Square, he was dismissed, charged with "splitting the party" and forced into house arrest.
Dilemma