Tiananmen: The People Versus the Party

[VEHICLE APPROACHING] NARRATOR: IN JUNE 1989, THE IMAGE OF A LONE FIGURE HALTING A BATTALION OF TANKS IN THE CHINESE CAPITAL OF BEIJING SENT SHOCKWAVES ACROSS THE WORLD.

BUT IT IS AN IMAGE WHICH CHINA ITSELF PREFERS TO FORGET.

24 HOURS EARLIER, THE CITY HAD WITNESSED A SCENE OF UNIMAGINABLE HORROR.

[PEOPLE SHOUTING, GUNSHOTS] THE PEOPLE'S ARMY HAD TAKEN CONTROL OF TIANANMEN SQUARE AND WERE POISED TO KILL.

MAN: I WILL NEVER FORGET THE SCENE THERE.

THE SPECTACLE OF A FULL ARMY INVADING ITS OWN CAPITAL IS ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED IN HUMAN HISTORY.

[ALL CHANTING] NARRATOR: WHAT HAD STARTED AS A PEACEFUL STUDENT PROTEST CALLING FOR LIBERTY ENDED 7 WEEKS LATER IN CARNAGE.

MAN: WE CHALLENGED THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND THEY TOOK THE WORST OF ALL OPTIONS.

NARRATOR: A BLOODY AND BRUTAL CLIMAX TO WHAT HAD BECOME A BATTLE FOR THE VERY SOUL OF A NATION.

MAN: I'VE NEVER THOUGHT WE GOT SO CLOSE TO SHAPE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FUTURE FOR CHINA.

AND I NEVER EXPECTED THAT THE MILITARY CRACKDOWN WAS SO EXTREME.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

NARRATOR: 30 YEARS ON, EYEWITNESS REFLECTIONS AND SECRET DOCUMENTS GIVE US A FRESHER AND DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS MASSACRE AT TIANANMEN CHANGED THE COURSE OF CHINESE HISTORY.

NARRATOR: NOWHERE IN THE WORLD IS SO MUCH POWER CONCENTRATED IN ONE PLACE-- TIANANMEN SQUARE.

EVERY DECISION AFFECTING THE LIVES OF A BILLION AND A HALF CHINESE CITIZENS IS DECIDED HERE BY THE WILL OF THE PERMANENTLY-RULING CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

BUT TIANANMEN IS MORE THAN JUST A REPRESENTATION OF ABSOLUTE POWER.

[MUSIC PLAYING] {\an8}[CHILDREN SINGING] NARRATOR: TIANANMEN IS THE BEATING HEART OF CHINA-- BUILT BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE, THE VERY EMBODIMENT OF THE SOUL OF THE CHINESE NATION, AND A SYMBOL OF ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION.

BUT FOR 7 DRAMATIC WEEKS IN 1989, IT ALSO BECAME A BATTLEGROUND TO DETERMINE NOTHING OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE'S FUTURE.

[MAN SINGING IN CHINESE] NARRATOR: FOR OVER THE COURSE OF THE 1980s, CHINA HAD BEEN UNDERGOING A RADICAL TRANSFORMATION FROM A PREVIOUSLY CLOSED SOCIETY TO ONE THAT WAS EMBRACING MODERNITY, INDIVIDUALITY, THE GOOD LIFE.

THE COMMUNIST PARTY HAD OPENED UP TO WESTERN VALUES AND INFLUENCE.

THE 1980s WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE BEST DECADE IN CONTEMPORARY CHINESE HISTORY.

[MAN SINGING IN CHINESE] IT WAS A MOMENT OF REALLY HIGH EXPECTATION, RISING EXPECTATION, AND HAPPINESS.

[MAN SINGING IN CHINESE] NARRATOR: TAKING CREDIT FOR THIS GOLDEN AGE WAS THE COUNTRY'S RECENTLY INSTALLED PARAMOUNT LEADER, DENG XIAOPING... NARRATOR: A LONG-STANDING PARTY OFFICIAL PERSECUTED DURING MAO'S CULTURAL REVOLUTION.

BY THE START OF THE 1980s, DENG ENVISIONED A NEW DEAL FOR CHINA.

NARRATOR: HE PROMOTED A PROGRAM OF ECONOMIC REFORM DUBBED THE 4 MODERNIZATIONS, PROMISING A BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING FOR EVERY CHINESE CITIZEN.

BUT ALONGSIDE THIS NEWFOUND PROSPERITY WAS THE LOOMING SHADOW OF A FIFTH MODERNIZATION-- THE PEOPLE'S VOICE--DEMOCRACY.

AND IN AN UNELECTED SINGLE PARTY STATE, THIS PRESENTED DENG WITH A DILEMMA.

WOULD HE DARE TO MAKE THAT FINAL MOVE?

NARRATOR: THROUGHOUT THE 1980s, THE PARTY'S REPRESSIVE DICTATORSHIP HAD BEEN INCREASINGLY UNDER QUESTION.

LATE IN 1986, A STUDENT PROTEST AROSE IN BEIJING THAT WAS SWIFTLY CURTAILED.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] BUT IT HAD FOUND SUPPORT WITHIN THE PARTY FROM ITS LEADING MODERNIZER, GENERAL SECRETARY HU YAOBANG.

ON APRIL 15, 1989, HIS SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED DEATH SPARKED A CALL FOR REFORM THAT WOULD NOT BE SO EASILY CURTAILED.

THE YEAR OF 1989 IS A YEAR THAT IS READY FOR EVAPORATION-- IT'S LIKE FOR EXPLOSION.

I WOULD DESCRIBE THE CAMPUSES MORE LIKE A KEG OF GUN POWDER AND READY FOR ANY SPARK TO DROP.

AND THEN HU YAOBANG'S DEATH SERVED AS THAT.

[STUDENTS CHANTING] NARRATOR: THOUSANDS OF BEIJING STUDENTS HEADED FOR TIANANMEN SQUARE TO HONOR THIS PEOPLE'S CHAMPION.

FOR IN RETURN FOR STANDING UP FOR A BETTER SOCIETY IN CHINA, HE'D BEEN HARSHLY DISMISSED FROM THE PARTY.

HIS COURAGE WOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

NARRATOR: AS THOUSANDS MOURNED IN THE SQUARE, LITTLE DID THEY REALIZE THAT HU YAOBANG'S LEGACY WOULD BE HUGE, TO SET IN MOTION THE BIGGEST PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT CHINA HAD EVER SEEN.

{\an8}[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] {\an8}[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NARRATOR: FREEDOM OF SPEECH, A FREE PRESS, A MORE TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT, THESE WOULD BE THE RALLYING CRIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS OF HOPE IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED.

BUT HOW FAR WAS THE COMMUNIST PARTY READY FOR A COMPLETE POLITICAL TURNAROUND?

BY 1989, DENG XIAOPING HAD STEPPED DOWN FROM DAY-TO-DAY LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY, BUT AS CALLS FOR REFORM ESCALATED INTO A NATIONAL CRISIS, HE WOULD CONTINUE TO PULL THE STRINGS.

CENTRAL TO HIS POLITICAL MANEUVERINGS WOULD BE THE PLAYOFF BETWEEN HIS TWO OPPOSING SUCCESSORS-- CAUTIOUS, HARD-LINE, CONSERVATIVE PREMIER LI PENG AND THE PARTY'S MORE MODERATE REFORMIST GENERAL SECRETARY, ZHAO ZIYANG.

NARRATOR: BUT ZHAO'S TASK WAS NEVER GOING TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

HE FACED HEAVY RESISTANCE FROM WITHIN, FOR THE ONE THING THAT HADN'T MODERNIZED IN THE EIGHTIES WAS THE COMMUNIST PARTY ITSELF.

EVERY FACET OF SOCIETY WAS STILL CLOSELY MONITORED AND CONTROLLED SO THAT ORDER AND STABILITY COULD BE MAINTAINED.

THE PARTY IS NORMALLY A BYWORD FOR SECRECY.

BUT THANKS TO THOUSANDS OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS LATER LEAKED FROM CHINA-- NOW KNOWN AS THE TIANANMEN PAPERS-- THE LITTLE-KNOWN INSIDE STORY OF THE PATH TO TIANANMEN'S BRUTAL CRACKDOWN CAN NOW BE UNCOVERED.

MAN: APRIL 17th, AFTERNOON.

{\an8}POLITBURO MEETING.

PARTY SECRETARY ZHAO ZIYANG AND PREMIER LI PENG ARE NOTIFIED THAT THERE ARE WORRISOME TRENDS ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

ZHAO ASSERTS HIS VIEW THAT THE STUDENT PROTESTS ARE ESSENTIALLY PATRIOTIC, BUT THAT REASON SHOULD BE THEIR WATCHWORD.

LI PENG, HOWEVER, ARGUES THAT THE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE NIPPED IN THE BUD.

HE HAS BEEN WARNED THAT ANTI-COMMUNIST IDEAS OF BOURGEOIS LIBERALIZATION ARE IN THE AIR AND MUST BE BLOCKED.

[NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING OVER SPEAKER] NARRATOR: WITHIN JUST A WEEK, THE STUDENTS HAD MOBILIZED INTO A MOVEMENT, BRIMMING WITH CONFIDENCE.

AS THE MOST ELITE SECTOR OF CHINESE SOCIETY, THEY SAW THEMSELVES AS THE GUARDIANS OF CHINA'S FUTURE, FIRED UP TO CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITARIAN NATURE OF THE COMMUNIST REGIME.

ON THE WALLS OF BEIJING'S UNIVERSITIES, GIANT HANDWRITTEN POSTERS, KNOWN AS DAZIBAOS, PROMOTED THEIR MANDATE FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORM.

NARRATOR: LEADING THE WAY WAS A 21-YEAR-OLD VETERAN OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING, SOON TO BE THE MOVEMENT'S PRINCIPAL STRATEGIST, WANG DAN.

[MAN SHOUTING ON LOUDSPEAKER] WE NEVER WANTED TO OVERTHROW THE REGIME.

WE WANTED THE GOVERNMENT TO REFORM AS THEY HAD PROMISED.

THAT'S WHY THE MAIN SLOGAN OF 1989 STUDENT MOVEMENT WAS DIALOGUE.

[STUDENTS CHANTING] NARRATOR: THE STUDENTS WERE CONFIDENT THEIR VOICE WOULD BE HEARD, FOR IN 1987, IN A FIRST GRADUAL STEP TOWARDS OPENNESS, THE PARTY HAD PASSED A MOTION ALLOWING FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THEIR LEADERS.

ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 19th, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS MADE THEIR WAY TO PARTY HEADQUARTERS ZHONGNANHAI TO PRESENT THEIR PROPOSALS FOR REFORMS TO PREMIER LI PENG AND DEMAND AN OFFICIAL DIALOGUE.

WUER: WE WANTED TO MEET WITH THE LEADERS.

WE WANTED TO MEET WITH LI PENG.

I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I GOT REALLY BEATEN BY POLICE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

WHEN YOU DEPLOY POLICE, YOU CREATE THE FRONTLINE.

{\an8}THAT IS WHAT THEY DID.

WUER: BEING A LEADER IN 1989 REALLY WASN'T THAT HARD.

I STOOD UP AND THEN PEOPLE DECIDED TO LISTEN.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE LONG WANTED-- NOT JUST SOMEBODY TO TAKE THE STAGE, BUT TO SHOW WE'RE NOT AFRAID.

NARRATOR: ON APRIL 22nd, THE STATE FUNERAL OF STUDENTS' CHAMPION HU YAOBANG WAS HELD IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE AT TIANANMEN.

WITH EVERY SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE PARTY IN ATTENDANCE, THE STUDENTS SAW ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

IF THE LEADERS REALLY BELIEVED IN DIALOGUE, THE TIME HAD COME TO PUT IT TO THE TEST.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] WUER: WE DIDN'T JUST COME FOR A FUNERAL.

WE CAME TO TIANANMEN TO ASK FOR THAT DIALOGUE.

NARRATOR: AND THIS TIME, THEY WERE DETERMINED TO BE HEARD.

WUER: WE HAVE COME TO THE POINT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST BEG FOR DEMOCRACY.

WE ARE GOING TO... WE'RE GOING TO DEMAND IT.

NARRATOR: AS THE STUDENTS REMAINED STEADFAST ON THE SQUARE, ZHAO ZIYANG ADDRESSED SENIOR PARTY MEMBERS.

HE ARGUED FOR A POLICY OF PERSUASION TO RESTORE CALM.

DIALOGUE WAS HIS FAVORED STRATEGY.

PREMIER LI PENG SAID HE AGREED.

BUT DID HE REALLY?

THE FOLLOWING DAY, ZHAO DEPARTED FOR A DIPLOMATIC VISIT TO NORTH KOREA, LEAVING THE PREMIER IN CHARGE.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, IN DENG XIAOPING'S HOME, LI TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ZHAO'S ABSENCE TO FORCE DENG'S HAND ON A TOUGHER APPROACH TO THE STUDENT MOVEMENT.

MAN: APRIL 25th, POLITBURO MEETING.

HARDLINER PREMIER LI PENG IS OUTRAGED BY THE OPEN CALLS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP DOWN, THE APPEALS TO INSTITUTE BROADER ELECTIONS AND REVISE THE CONSTITUTION TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON POLITICAL PARTIES AND NEWSPAPERS.

MAN: FOR LI PENG TO BE SAYING THIS IS LIKE SAYING THIS IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

THIS IS AN ALL-OR-NOTHING ATTACK ON OUR SYSTEM AND THE FACT THAT WE, THE COMMUNIST PARTY, RUN THE SYSTEM.

DENG APPARENTLY LISTENED TO LI PENG'S ARGUMENT, LISTENS TO THE OTHERS' COMMENTS, AND THEN SUMS THINGS UP BY SAYING... MAN: "I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE STANDING COMMITTEE'S DECISION.

"THIS IS NO ORDINARY STUDENT MOVEMENT.

"A TINY MINORITY WANT TO CONFUSE THE PEOPLE "AND THROW THE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS.

"THIS IS A WELL-PLANNED PLOT WHOSE REAL AIM "IS TO REJECT THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY "AND THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM AT THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL.

WE'VE GOT TO BE EXPLICIT AND CLEAR IN OPPOSING THIS TURMOIL."

NARRATOR: ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 26th, THE STUDENTS WERE CONFRONTED WITH AN EDITORIAL ON THE FRONT PAGE OF CHINA'S OFFICIAL PARTY NEWSPAPER, THE "PEOPLE'S DAILY."

IT CLAIMED THE STUDENTS' ACTIONS THREATENED TO "PLUNGE THE WHOLE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS AND SABOTAGE."

BUT SOMETIMES HISTORY CAN TURN ON JUST ONE WORD, AND FOR TIANANMEN, THE WORD WAS "TURMOIL."

IT IMMEDIATELY EVOKED A BLOODY PERIOD IN RECENT CHINESE HISTORY-- CHAIRMAN MAO'S CULTURAL REVOLUTION, A GRIM DECADE OF CIVIL UNREST AND CLASS WAR THAT SAW MILLIONS JAILED AND THOUSANDS EXECUTED.

THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR SCENES LIKE THIS IN DENG'S NEW DEAL CHINA.

[WOMAN SPEAKING OVER LOUDSPEAKER] NARRATOR: BY PORTRAYING THE PEACEFUL STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS AS ENEMIES OF THE STATE, DENG'S INCENDIARY EDITORIAL HIT A RAW NERVE.

{\an8}NARRATOR: THE FOLLOWING DAY, DEFYING AN EMERGENCY BAN ON PUBLIC PROTEST, THE STUDENTS TOOK THEIR ANGER TO THE STREETS.

WUER: 21 YEARS OLD, I WAS FACING THIS DILEMMA.

DO I GIVE THIS COMMAND FOR MY FELLOW CLASSMATES TO GO OUT TO FACE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT?

WE TOLD THEM THAT WE WILL TAKE PART IN THIS MARCH.

WE WILL BE IN THE FRONTLINE.

{\an8}[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NARRATOR: FROM UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE CAPITAL, STUDENTS WALKED UPWARDS OF 3 1/2 HOURS TO THE CENTER OF BEIJING, OUTRAGED BY THE COMPLETE MISREPRESENTATION OF THEIR MOVEMENT.

THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS MIGHT BE, BUT THERE WAS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

[APPLAUSE] THERE WAS FURTHER STRENGTH FROM A DEVELOPMENT DENG COULD NEVER HAVE EXPECTED.

HIS EDITORIAL HAD ROUSED THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC FOR THE STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS.

NARRATOR: THE MOOD THROUGHOUT THE CITY BECAME EVER MORE JUBILANT, CAPTURED IN THIS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN AMATEUR FOOTAGE FROM THE VERY HEART OF THE DEMONSTRATION.

HAVING LIVED IN CHINA FOR 3 YEARS, I HAD NEVER SEEN THE CHINESE SO FREE TO EXHIBIT THEIR SENSE OF FREEDOM, IN A WAY.

I THINK THERE WAS MORE AWE IN THE MINDS OF MANY PEOPLE THAT, "LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOING.

"LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US.

"LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR ABILITY TO MAYBE MAKE A PROTEST AND HAVE IT BE SUCCESSFUL."

WUER: IT IS ONE DAY THAT I THINK WE WILL REMEMBER IN SUCH FESTIVE FEELING.

AND EVERYBODY WAS GIVING US A "V" SIGN, AND THEN IT BECAME A SYMBOLIC GESTURE OF THE 1989 STUDENT MOVEMENT, TOO.

NARRATOR: THOUGH THOUSANDS OF POLICE HAD BEEN MOBILIZED IN ANTICIPATION OF CONFLICT, THE MARCH'S PEACEFUL GOOD NATURE CAUGHT THEM OFF GUARD.

AND IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT, THERE WAS ONLY SO MUCH RESISTANCE THEY COULD USE AGAINST THE NOW HEROIC STUDENTS.

SHEN: IT WAS SUCH A TRIUMPH.

WE BREAK HUMAN WALLS FORMED BY POLICE.

THE FEARED ARMED POLICE DID NOT ARRIVE.

AND IT WAS SUCH A CARNIVAL.

[WHISTLE BLOWS] WUER: APRIL 27th, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL, TOO.

IT WASN'T JUST A STATEMENT.

WINNING THIS CAMPAIGN IS AT THAT TIME, I FEEL, A STRONG PROBABILITY.

NARRATOR: WITH THE BELIEF THAT TRIUMPH WAS WITHIN THEIR GRASP, THE STUDENTS REALIZED THAT TO CHAMPION DEMOCRACY, THEY HAD TO PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACHED.

BACK AT CAMPUSES, THEY WORKED SWIFTLY TO BALLOT FOR ELECTED LEADERS AND FORMALIZE THEIR POLITICAL STRATEGY.

[WOMAN SPEAKING CHINESE OVER LOUDSPEAKER] MAN: THERE WAS ALSO THE HARDENING OF ATTITUDES AMONG STUDENTS BECAUSE THE REGIME SENT OUT FOR THE DIALOGUES SOME OF THE MOST HARD LINE SORT OF LIARS AND BASTARDS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THING TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH THE STUDENTS AND USE THE OLD PATERNALISTIC, "YOU STUPID STUDENTS GET OUT OF THE SQUARE" KIND OF THING THAT ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T WORK.

NARRATOR: BUT NOT EVERYONE IN THE PARTY TOOK A HARD LINE ON THE STUDENTS' DEMANDS.

BACK FROM HIS TRIP TO NORTH KOREA, STAUNCH REFORMIST ZHAO ZIYANG WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE HIS SKEPTICAL COMRADES OF THE URGENT NEED FOR POLITICAL CHANGE.

{\an8}MAN: MAY 1st, REPORTED STATEMENT, POLITBURO STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING.

PARTY SECRETARY ZHAO ZIYANG EXPLAINS THE NEED TO ACCELERATE THE REFORM OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE BUILDING OF A SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY BASED ON LAW.

IF THE PARTY DOESN'T HOLD UP THE BANNER OF DEMOCRACY, SOMEONE ELSE WILL.

ZIYANG, HOWEVER, INSISTS ON PURSUING MULTICHANNEL DIALOGUE WHILE PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE STUDENTS TO RETURN TO CLASSES.

LINK: IN THE TIANANMEN STUDENT GROUPS, THERE WERE SOME WHO SAID, AND I THINK SINCERELY, "WE'RE ONLY TRYING TO HELP THE PARTY BE BETTER."

[MAN SPEAKING CHINESE OVER LOUDSPEAKER] LINK: ALL THE WAY OVER TO SOME THAT WOULD HAVE PULLED DOWN THE PARTY TOMORROW IF THEY COULD.

[MAN SPEAKING CHINESE OVER LOUDSPEAKER] LINK: SO WITHIN THAT RANGE OF OPINION, YOU HAVE TO MEASURE WHAT WE MEAN BY ZHAO ZIYANG WAS ON THEIR SIDE.

ZHAO ZIYANG WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR OF PULLING DOWN THE PARTY TOMORROW, BUT IN TERMS OF THE OTHER ISSUES, LIKE GETTING RID OF THE UNFAIR CORRUPTION, SURE, HE WAS ON THEIR SIDE.

[CHINESE NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING] {\an8}NARRATOR: ON MAY THE 4th, A JOYFUL SPIRIT SWEPT THROUGH TIANANMEN AS THE PEOPLE OF BEIJING CELEBRATED A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

IT WAS THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF A LANDMARK MOMENT WHEN THE PEOPLE'S VOICE HAD SUCCEEDED IN CHANGING CHINA'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

FOR IN MAY 1919, A REVOLUTIONARY STUDENT MOVEMENT SAW 3,000 MARCHING THROUGH BEIJING.

STIRRED BY CHINA'S PERCEIVED MISTREATMENT AT THE HANDS OF THE WEST AFTER WORLD WAR I, THEY, TOO, HAD RALLIED FOR PROGRESS AND POLITICAL FREEDOM.

ITS LEADERS WENT ON TO BECOME THE FOUNDERS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

70 YEARS LATER, THE COUNTRY WAS ONCE AGAIN ON THE BRINK OF CHANGE, ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY ITSELF THAT HAD BECOME THE TARGET.

MAN: THERE WAS A LOT OF PENT UP GRIEVANCES IN CHINESE SOCIETY, AND PEOPLE FELT, FINALLY WE CAN COME OUT AND SAY WHAT WE'D BEEN TRYING TO SAY FOR DECADES.

[STUDENTS SINGING IN CHINESE] NARRATOR: BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER MOMENT THAT MADE MAY 4th A TURNING POINT IN AN EVER-ESCALATING CRISIS.

ZHAO ZIYANG WAS SCHEDULED TO ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC SUMMIT, BUT HE MADE A CHOICE THAT WOULD LATER COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM.

NARRATOR: ZHAO'S POSITION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CLEARER-- THE STUDENTS WERE REASONABLE AND CHINA WAS IN NO DANGER OF COLLAPSING INTO THE TURMOIL THAT DENG XIAOPING HAD FORECAST.

SHOCKINGLY, HE HAD PUBLICLY REVEALED THE PARTY'S BITTER INTERNAL SPLIT ON DEMOCRATIC REFORM AND SET HIMSELF UP FOR A FALL.

NATHAN: PEOPLE IN THE CONSERVATIVE FACTION OF THE LEADERSHIP AND DENG XIAOPING ACCUSED HIM LATER OF HAVING USED THIS ADB SPEECH TO SORT OF MAKE A PUBLIC CHALLENGE AGAINST DENG XIAOPING AND THE REST OF IT.

BUT I THINK HIS INTENTION-- AND HE DEFENDED HIMSELF LATER AND SAID THAT HIS INTENTION WAS SIMPLY TO CONTINUE ON THE TRACK OF SIGNALING TO THE STUDENTS THAT YOU SHOULD SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE SMALL NUMBER OF EXTREMISTS AND GO BACK TO THE CAMPUSES, AND YOUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN HEARD AND ACCEPTED.

NARRATOR: THE STUDENTS DID NOT GO BACK TO CAMPUS.

ON THE CONTRARY, THE MOVEMENT HAD EXPLODED THROUGHOUT CHINA, A NATION NOW UNITED IN ITS HUNGER FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF SOCIETY.

LARGE-SCALE PROTESTS BROKE OUT IN 21 PROVINCES, THE STUDENT VOICE AMPLIFIED BY THE SUPPORT OF EVERY SECTOR OF THE CHINESE POPULATION.

BACK AT TIANANMEN, THE MOVEMENT'S DRIVING FORCE HAD TIRED OF BEING IGNORED.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE THE PARTY SIT UP AND LISTEN?

NARRATOR: EVERYTHING ABOUT THE HUNGER STRIKE WOULD BE SYMBOLIC, DOWN TO THE WHITE HEADBANDS IDENTIFYING THOSE TAKING PART.

IN A COUNTRY WHERE A FRIENDLY WAY OF SAYING "HOW ARE YOU?"

IS "HAVE YOU EATEN?"

THIS WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

AFTER ONE LAST MEAL, THE STUDENTS SETTLED DOWN TO OCCUPY TIANANMEN SQUARE DAY AND NIGHT.

WUER: WE WERE GOING TO STOP EAT TO DEATH, UNTIL OUR DEMANDS WERE MET.

WE ALL HAD WRITTEN DOWN OUR LAST WILL.

IT'S A MOMENT OF SELF-DEFINITION FOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE WERE MAKING WHO WE ARE.

WOMAN: "DURING THE GLORIOUS DAYS OF OUR YOUTH, "WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ABANDON THE BEAUTY OF LIFE.

YET HOW RELUCTANT, HOW UNWILLING WE ARE."

[STUDENTS SINGING] WOMAN: "THE COUNTRY IS OUR COUNTRY.

"THE PEOPLE ARE OUR PEOPLE.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS OUR GOVERNMENT.

WHO WILL SHOUT IF NOT US?

WHO WILL ACT IF NOT US?"

[ALL CHANTING] WOMAN: "THOUGH OUR SHOULDERS MAY BE FRAIL, "THOUGH WE ARE TOO YOUNG TO DIE, "WE MUST LEAVE.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

"HISTORY DEMANDS THIS OF US.

"DEMOCRACY IS NOT THE CONCERN OF ONLY A FEW, "AND THE BUILDING OF DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A SINGLE GENERATION."

NARRATOR: THIS PROFOUNDLY EMOTIVE GESTURE HAD AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

THE PARTY WAS FINALLY READY TO TALK.

SHEN: 12 MINISTERS PLUS THE STATE COUNCIL AND THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF COMMUNIST PARTY WERE PRESENT.

NARRATOR: THE DIALOGUE TEAM ENTERED THE MEETING WITH HIGH HOPES.

IT WOULD BE CHAIRED BY YAN MINGFU, A TRUE REFORMIST AND SYMPATHIZER, AND THE PARTY HAD AGREED IT WOULD BE BROADCAST ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

WUER: YAN MINGFU SAT DOWN AND SAID, "AS HARD AS IT IS FOR ME TO AGREE ON THIS, LET ME SAY YES."

SO, YES, WE WERE PROMISED.

HE TRIED HIS VERY HARDEST TO MAKE SURE ALL THESE CONDITIONS WERE MET.

[MAN SPEAKING CHINESE] WUER: LIVE BROADCAST, HOWEVER, WAS CANCELLED IN THE LAST MOMENT.

SHEN: WANG CHAOHUA BARGED INTO THE ROOM AND SAID, "WE NEED TO STOP.

THERE'S NO BROADCAST."

{\an8}WE FEEL CHEATED.

SHEN: SO WE WERE SABOTAGED BY THE STATE COUNCIL, BY PRIME MINISTER LI PENG, AND STOPPED THE BROADCAST.

NARRATOR: AS STUDENT LEADERS SEETHED OVER THE THWARTED DIALOGUE, AT HOME DENG XIAOPING WAS FEELING THE HEAT.

MAN: MAY 13th, PRIVATE CONVERSATION.

DENG XIAOPING AFFIRMS TO ZHAO ZIYANG THAT DIALOGUE IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT THE MOVEMENT HAS DRAGGED ON FOR TOO LONG.

THE HUNGER STRIKE IS A PLOY TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION SINCE USSR PARTY SECRETARY MIKHAIL GORBACHEV IS DUE FOR A CRUCIAL STATE VISIT IN JUST TWO DAYS' TIME.

DENG IS WORRIED ABOUT CHINA'S INTERNATIONAL IMAGE.

THE SQUARE MUST BE IN ORDER WHEN GORBACHEV ARRIVES.

NARRATOR: GORBACHEV'S POLICY OF GLASNOST, WHICH HAD INTRODUCED A FRESH OPENNESS TO SOVIET COMMUNISM, HAD BEEN AN INSPIRATION FOR THE CHINESE STUDENT MOVEMENT AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN] NARRATOR: BUT FOR DENG, GORBACHEV'S VISIT CAME WITH A FEAR-- THAT IT WOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS GLASNOST IN CHINA.

NARRATOR: WITH DENG'S PANIC RISING, ZHAO'S REFORMIST GROUP PERSUADED A NUMBER OF CHINESE INTELLECTUALS TO VISIT TIANANMEN, BELIEVING THAT ONLY THIS RESPECTED ELITE STOOD A CHANCE OF ENCOURAGING THE STUDENTS TO LEAVE THE SQUARE.

{\an8}[APPLAUSE] {\an8}[APPLAUSE] NARRATOR: THE INTELLECTUALS' CALL FOR RATIONAL THINKING FELL ON DEAF EARS.

HUNGER STRIKERS WERE ALREADY FAINTING.

THE SQUARE HAD BECOME A CHARGED ENVIRONMENT.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, DENG XIAOPING'S WORST FEARS WERE REALIZED.

THE STUDENT MOVEMENT HAD PROVEN IMMOVABLE.

THE CHINESE LEADERS WILL BE FURIOUS IF THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SUMMIT IS OVERSHADOWED BY INTERNAL UNREST.

NARRATOR: ON MAY 15th, GORBACHEV FINALLY LANDED IN CHINA, BUT HE WOULD NEVER MAKE IT TO TIANANMEN.

WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GLORIOUS STATE RECEPTION ON THE SQUARE BECAME A HANDSHAKE ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAY.

[SIREN] THERE WAS STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE.

DENG'S HUMILIATION WAS OVERWHELMING.

STANDING WITNESS ON THE ROOFTOP OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY, ZHAO ZIYANG LOOKED DOWN THROUGH BINOCULARS ON A SEA OF UNWAVERING PROTEST.

TWO DAYS LATER, IT WOULD BE HIS TURN TO FACE HUMILIATION.

MAN: MAY 17th, EVENING, POLITBURO MEETING.

PREMIER LI PENG LISTS THE MASSIVE MISTAKES OF PARTY SECRETARY ZHAO ZIYANG REGARDING THE ESCALATION OF THE STUDENT MOVEMENT.

MAN: LI PENG IS OPENLY CRITICAL.

ZHAO HAS EXPOSED THE PARTY'S INTERNAL CONFLICTS.

HE USED GORBACHEV'S VISIT TO POINT A SPEAR AT DENG XIAOPING WHILE THE WORD WAS WATCHING.

MAN: QUOTE, "IT WILL BE HARD FOR ME TO CARRY OUT THIS PLAN.

"I HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH IT.

BUT I WILL SUBMIT TO PARTY DISCIPLINE," UNQUOTE.

NARRATOR: WITH TENSIONS HIGH IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY, ZHAO'S POSITION WAS UNTENABLE.

WITHOUT THE WILL TO ENFORCE DENG XIAOPING'S ORDER, HE WOULD HAVE TO GO.

{\an8}[SIREN] NARRATOR: 5 DAYS IN, EVEN STATE-CONTROLLED CHINESE TELEVISION WAS REPORTING SYMPATHETICALLY ON THE FASTING STUDENTS.

NARRATOR: THE GRAVITY OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS' SUFFERING STIRRED THE EMOTIONS OF EVERY SECTOR OF BEIJING SOCIETY.

THE STUDENTS WERE THE PEOPLE'S CHILDREN MAKING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THE PEOPLE.

AS MORE AND MORE CITIZENS TOOK TO THE STREETS AND VISITED THE SQUARE IN SUPPORT, A REFRESHING AIR OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY SWEPT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

[ALL CHANTING] SOUTHERLAND: ONE GENTLEMAN, I REMEMBER, CAME UP NEXT TO ME AND HE HAD HIS BRIEFCASE AND HIS WHITE SHIRT ON, SO HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL OF SOME KIND.

AND I SAID, "DO YOU KNOW THERE'S A RUMOR THAT ONE OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS HAS DIED?"

AND HE TURNED TO ME AND HE SAID, "THIS IS TERRIBLE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN."

AND HE SAID, "I CAN HANDLE THIS.

WE CAN HANDLE THIS."

[SIREN] [ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER LOUDSPEAKER] NARRATOR: FINALLY, AFTER WEEKS OF RESISTANCE, LI PENG AGREED TO A DIALOGUE WITH MAJOR STUDENT LEADERS, INCLUDING WANG DAN AND WUER KAIXI.

BUT IT WAS ALL A SHAM.

THE PREMIER KNEW THAT MARTIAL LAW WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

THE STUDENTS WERE WEAK WITH HUNGER, BUT DETERMINED TO PUT UP A SPIRITED FIGHT.

THE STUDENTS WERE SORT OF PUFFED UP, I THINK, WITH THE POWER OF BEING COVERED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, OF HAVING SOMEHOW GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS DEMONSTRATION FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS, AND THEY WERE LIKE, "WE'RE WINNING.

YOU LISTEN TO US."

UNTIL TODAY, I THINK I WAS QUITE POLITE.

I WAS FIRM, AND THEN I THINK I WAS A LITTLE AGITATED.

BUT, OF COURSE, I WAS ON MY FIFTH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEETING WASN'T MEANT FOR THEM TO LISTEN.

THEY DIDN'T BRING THEIR EARS.

THEY WERE THERE TO JUST TALK.

{\an8}[SIREN] NARRATOR: IN THE DAWN HOURS OF MAY 19th, ZHAO ZIYANG MADE A FINAL VISIT TO TIANANMEN.

HE CAME WITH AN APOLOGY TO THE STUDENTS, BUT HIDDEN WITHIN WAS A SUGGESTION THAT PERHAPS THEIR TIME WAS UP.

{\an8}[INDISTINCT CHATTER] [WOMAN SPEAKING CHINESE OVER LOUDSPEAKER] NARRATOR: WITH ZHAO ZIYANG'S RUTHLESS DISMISSAL, THE PARTY HAD SHOWN THEY WOULD STOP AT NOTHING TO PUT A LID ON THE MOVEMENT.

AND FOR THOSE IN THE SQUARE, IT WAS BECOMING CLEAR THAT SOME KIND OF SHOWDOWN WAS NOW INEVITABLE.

NARRATOR: THE RUMORS SPREADING THROUGH TIANANMEN BECAME STARK REALITY WHEN ON THE EVENING OF MAY 19th PREMIER LI PENG REVEALED TO THE PARTY THE EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SUPPRESSING THE STUDENTS.

{\an8}[APPLAUSE] MUNRO: A CHAOS HAD BROKEN OUT IN THE CITY, ACCORDING TO THE LEADERSHIP, AND MARTIAL LAW WAS REQUIRED.

EVERYONE HAD TO LEAVE THE SQUARE IMMEDIATELY OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES.

THE TROOPS WERE ON THEIR WAY.

[MAN SPEAKING CHINESE OVER LOUDSPEAKER] NARRATOR: AT MIDNIGHT, LI PENG'S DECLARATION WAS BROADCAST TO THE MASSES IN TIANANMEN SQUARE.

IN A MATTER OF HOURS, EVERY ONE OF THEM WOULD BE SUBJECT TO MILITARY RULE.

NARRATOR: DEMONSTRATIONS, MASS GATHERING, SPEECHES-- EVERYTHING THAT FUELLED THEIR MOVEMENT WOULD BECOME CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

NARRATOR: MORE THAN 200,000 SOLDIERS OF THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY HAD BEEN DEPLOYED, PRIMED TO SEIZE CONTROL OF 7 MAJOR BEIJING DISTRICTS FOR AS LONG AS THE REPRESSION WOULD TAKE.

MUNRO: AN ASTONISHING THING HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

EVERYONE WAS KEEPING VIGIL IN THE SQUARE WAITING FOR THE SOLDIERS TO ARRIVE.

[ALL SINGING AND CHANTING IN CHINESE] MUNRO: THE HOURS TICKED BY, AND THEN ABOUT 3:00 AM, PEOPLE WERE THINKING, "WHERE IS THE ARMY?"

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HOLDING IT?

NARRATOR: THE PARTY'S STATED AIM FOR MARTIAL LAW WAS TO CURB THE TURMOIL WITH A FIRM HAND.

BUT THEY HADN'T TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINESE CITIZENS AND THEIR ARMY.

NARRATOR: IN A COUNTRY WHERE SCHOOLCHILDREN ARE TAUGHT TO SING "THE ARMY LOVES THE PEOPLE," THIS FIRM HAND WAS A PERSONAL AFFRONT.

I JUST CLIMBED ON THE TRUCKS AND TALK TO THEM.

I SAID, "DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON?"

AND, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?"

YOU KNOW.

"WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE.

WE JUST WANT CHINA TO BE BETTER."

MUNRO: SUDDENLY THE STUDENT LOUDSPEAKERS CAME TO LIFE IN THE SQUARE AND ANNOUNCED THE GREAT CITIZENRY OF BEIJING HAS STOPPED THE ADVANCE OF THE PLA INTO THE CAPITAL AT ALL POINTS OF ENTRY BY SHEER FORCE OF NUMBERS.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] {\an8}[ALL CHEERING] NARRATOR: ON THE MORNING OF MAY 20th, MILITARY HELICOPTERS CIRCLED TIANANMEN, DROPPING BULLETINS DETAILING THE STRICT REGULATIONS OF MARTIAL LAW.

THOUGH THE TROOPS HAD BEEN STALLED, THE NEW ORDER WAS HERE TO STAY.

NARRATOR: BUT EMBOLDENED AND VICTORIOUS, THE STUDENTS WOULD NOT BE INTIMIDATED.

THE HUNGER STRIKE WOULD BE ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF PERMANENT OCCUPATION OF THE SQUARE.

THE STANDOFF BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE PARTY HAD REACHED A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

NARRATOR: SO FAR, EMERGENCY MEASURES HAD FAILED TO HOLD BACK THE TIDAL WAVE OF PROTEST.

NOT ONLY WERE BEIJING CITIZENS STALLING THE MILITARY CRACKDOWN, MARTIAL LAW WAS UNDER THREAT FROM WITHIN, AN UNPRECEDENTED MUTINY WITHIN EVERY RANK OF THE PEOPLE'S ARMY ITSELF.

LINK: THERE ARE ACCOUNTS OF SOLDIERS THAT DIDN'T WANT TO BE DOING WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

THE REAL TOUGH QUESTION IS, HOW WIDESPREAD WAS THAT KIND OF THINKING?

NARRATOR: AS CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION, DENG'S ORDERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FINAL.

INSTEAD, HE WAS NOW UNDER FIRE AS HIS PLAN LOOKED PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO BACKFIRING.

MUNRO: THE ARMY WAS DEEPLY DIVIDED.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE COMMANDER OF THE 38th ARMY, WHICH WAS THE BEIJING DIVISION, BEIJING-BASED DIVISION OF THE PLA, REFUSED TO CARRY OUT ORDERS.

MAN: MAY 21st, MEETING WITH THE ELDERS, HOME OF DENG XIAOPING, FORBIDDEN CITY.

DENG XIAOPING CALLED FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING WITH THE 8 ELDERS.

HE STATES THAT MARTIAL LAW HASN'T RESTORED ORDER.

THE ONGOING DIVISIONS INSIDE THE PARTY PREVENT FROM TAKING ACTION AGAINST AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED LONG AGO.

PARTY AND STATE ARE FACING A LIFE AND DEATH CRISIS.

DENG INCITES THE ELDERS TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE ARMY AND MARTIAL LAW.

NARRATOR: ON MAY 22nd, DENG RAISED THE STAKES.

ALL HOPES OF CRUSHING THE STUDENT MOVEMENT LAY WITH MARTIAL LAW, AND HE HAD TO RETAKE COMMAND IMMEDIATELY.

FIRST OFF, ANY DISSENTERS WITHIN THE PARTY ITSELF MUST BE CURBED.

REFORMISTS MUST BE KEPT AT BAY.

HE ORDERED THAT HIS OWN COMRADES BE PUT UNDER SURVEILLANCE.

NARRATOR: A TRANSFER OF POWER THAT HAD NO ACTUAL CONSTITUTIONAL LEGITIMACY, BUT BY NOW, DENG HAD ASSUMED ABSOLUTE CONTROL.

NARRATOR: DESPERATE MEASURES WERE NEEDED, FOR OUTRAGE AT MARTIAL LAW HAD ONCE AGAIN UNITED THE CHINESE PEOPLE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

A PROTEST IN HONG KONG WHERE 600,000 TOOK TO THE STREETS MIRRORED SIMILAR MASS GATHERINGS THROUGHOUT CHINA, FROM WUHAN TO SHANGHAI TO CHONGQING AND BEYOND.

NARRATOR: TO BUY HIMSELF TIME TO ENLIST THE SUPPORT OF CHINA'S ENTIRE MILITARY FORCE, DENG TEMPORARILY WITHDREW THE TROOPS TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF BEIJING, BUT AS ONE MASSED CONVOY LEFT THE CITY, A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF PROTESTERS WAS JUST ARRIVING.

NARRATOR: ON MAY 23rd, A STAGGERING ONE MILLION BEIJING WORKERS STAGED A MASS STRIKE IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENT CALL FOR DEMOCRACY.

MUNRO: THIS WAS REALLY QUITE SOMETHING.

A BIG COLUMN OF BRAWNY WORKERS APPEARED IN THE SQUARE CARRYING BANNERS AND LOOKING VERY KIND OF PROLETARIAN.

THE BIG BANNER IS SAYING, "SHI MIN GAN SI DUI," WHICH MEANS CITIZENS DARE TO DIE BRIGADES.

THE MESSAGE THE WORKERS WERE GIVING AT THIS TIME IS, WE THE WORKERS ARE HERE AND WE WILL DEFEND THE STUDENTS IN THE SQUARE WITH OUR LIVES IF NECESSARY.

[HORN HONKS] AS SOON AS THE WORKERS ACTIVELY CAME IN ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT, THEN IT BECAME A MULTI-CLASS MOVEMENT, WHICH WAS REALLY UNPRECEDENTED IN CHINA.

NARRATOR: NURSES, JOURNALISTS, EVEN THE POLICE, OPENLY IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES WITH THE MOVEMENT, THE CLOSEST THING TO A QUASI-REVOLUTION BEIJING'S STREETS HAD YET SEEN.

THIS FURTHER FUELLED THE GOVERNMENT'S PARANOIA, AND IN FACT, THIS REALLY WAS THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE.

{\an8}[MAN SINGING IN CHINESE] {\an8} {\an8} NARRATOR: WORKERS, CITIZENS, STUDENTS TOGETHER, TIANANMEN SQUARE HAD BECOME THE TRIUMPH OF THE PEOPLE.

NO LONGER JUST THE HEADQUARTERS OF A MOVEMENT, BUT THE EPICENTER OF A CLASSLESS, FREE-SPEAKING CHINESE PEOPLE, A SELF-RUN CIVIL SOCIETY AND A MODEL OF THE CHINA THEY ALL HOPED ONE DAY TO LIVE IN.

LINK: IT WAS VERY HARD IN BEIJING TO FIND ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S SIDE.

PEOPLE CAME OUT, AND THE PUBLIC MOOD WAS BETTER THAN I'D EVER SEEN IT IN BEIJING.

PEOPLE WERE NICE TO EACH OTHER.

THERE WERE NO POLICEMEN, BUT IT WAS A SELF-RUN CITY, VERY CIVILIZED.

[SINGING CONTINUES] SHEN: THE CRIME RATE WAS DOWN DURING THAT TIME, AND THERE WAS A FUNNY MOMENT THAT THERE'S LITTLE POSTERS SAYING THAT THIEVES IN BEIJING DECLARE A STRIKE.

THEY WILL STOP STEALING IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENTS.

[MAN SINGING IN CHINESE] [ALL CHANTING] TANG: TO US, IT WAS CHINA'S WOODSTOCK.

IT WAS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE SINCE 1949 TO FULLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

NARRATOR: BUT IN THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY, MANY WOKE UP TO THE HARSH REALITIES AT PLAY IN THIS UTOPIAN CITY WITHIN A CITY.

DAY-TO-DAY ORGANIZATION AND LOGISTICS ON THE SQUARE WERE TOUGH.

WITH MARTIAL LAW STILL VERY MUCH IN OPERATION, EACH DAY WAS AN ANXIOUS WAITING GAME.

FATIGUE AND ANXIETY MEANT EMOTIONS COULD TURN ON A DIME.

AND THE MOVEMENT'S DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES WERE SLIPPING AWAY AS HOT-HEADED SENTIMENT GRADUALLY REPLACED REASON.

WUER: AND THE RADICAL VOICES ARE USUALLY LOUDER.

THE RATIONAL VOICES CAN HARDLY COMPETE WITH THOSE VOICES.

SO IT IS CLEAR TOWARD THE END OF MAY, THERE WERE DIFFERENT VOICES IN TIANANMEN SQUARE.

MAYBE WE WILL LOST OUR LIVES-- WE WILL LOSE OUR LIVES, BUT WE HAVE DECIDED WE MUST GO ON, WE MUST STRIKE ON.

[ALL CHANTING] NARRATOR: AS MANY ASSUMED THE MANTLE OF RESISTANCE FIGHTERS, CLENCHED FISTS REPLACED THE MORE PEACEFUL VICTORY SIGN OF YORE.

[APPLAUSE] KEY TO THE SQUARE'S MOUNTING RADICALIZATION WAS ITS NEWLY INSTALLED COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 23-YEAR-OLD CHAI LING.

{\an8}[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] FOR A POLITICAL MOVEMENT, A CAMPAIGN OF SUCH A HUGE SCALE TO REACH ITS DESIRED CONSEQUENCES, DESIRED RESULTS, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO NOT JUST CHARGE OUR EMOTIONS, BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO RESTRAIN FROM IT.

NARRATOR: BY THE MIDDLE OF MAY, THE MOVEMENT HIT A NEW TURNING POINT THAT WOULD PROVE CRITICAL IN THE WEEKS TO FOLLOW.

AS MANY OF THE FIRST WAVE VACATED THE SQUARE, A CONSTANT FLOW OF NEW STUDENTS FROM THE CHINESE PROVINCES WAS POURING INTO BEIJING ON A DAILY BASIS, DRAWN BY THE HOPE OF BEING A FOUNDING PART OF CHINA'S GLORIOUS FUTURE.

BUT WERE THEY PERHAPS TOO NAIVE TO SEE THE DANGER THAT LAY AHEAD?

LINK: A LOT OF THE BEIJING STUDENTS DID LEAVE, AND THEY WERE REPLACED IN THE SQUARE BY STUDENTS WHO CAME FROM OTHERS CITIES.

SO THEY'RE ARRIVING, AND SOMEBODY SAYS, "OH, IT'S TIME TO FOLD UP AND GO BACK."

"NO, WE JUST GOT HERE."

THE ONES WHO STAYED TO THE VERY END AND RISKED THEIR LIVES, AND SOME OF THEM LOST THEIR LIVES, WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE OF BEIJING.

[THUNDER] [RAIN FALLING] [THUNDER] WUER: IF WE VACATED THE SQUARE BEFORE JUNE 4th, WE PROBABLY COULD AVOID A BLOODSHED.

I'M NOT SAYING THE STUDENTS SHOULD HOLD RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLOODSHED.

IF WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED AND THEN WE DIDN'T.

I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT WILL HAUNT US FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

NARRATOR: ON MAY 27th, THE LONGEST-SERVING STUDENT LEADERS ADDRESSED A PACKED CROWD IN WHAT WOULD BE A LAST-CHANCE GATHERING ON THE SQUARE.

[SPEAKING CHINESE] NARRATOR: THEY WERE FACED WITH A MORAL DILEMMA.

SHOULD THEY LEAD TO THE BITTER END OR ANTICIPATE AN INEVITABLE CATASTROPHE AND ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS TO BACK DOWN?

NARRATOR: BUT WUER KAIXI AND WANG DAN HAD THE BENEFIT OF FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OF DEALING WITH THE PARTY, AND BOTH KNEW HOW COLD AND RUTHLESS IT COULD BE.

THEY FORESAW A TRAGIC CONCLUSION, AND, UNABLE TO CONVINCE THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS OTHERWISE, WITHDREW FROM TIANANMEN.

NATHAN: ONE OF THE FEATURES OF TRAGEDY PROBABLY IS THAT THE INEVITABILITY IS EXCLUSIVELY RETROSPECTIVE.

THE INEVITABILITY IS NOT THERE IN THE DOING.

THERE ARE SO MANY OFF RAMPS THAT ARE NOT TAKEN, AND THAT BECOMES THE TRAGEDY.

NARRATOR: BY MAY 27th, DENG'S MILITARY STRATEGY WENT INTO OVERDRIVE.

THE END WAS IN SIGHT.

HE'D SECURED THE BACKING OF EVERY ARMY GOVERNOR AND ENLISTED AN ONSLAUGHT OF TROOPS FROM PROVINCES THROUGHOUT CHINA TO CARRY OUT A FINAL, NO-HOLDS-BARRED ACT OF SUPPRESSION.

THIS TIME, THERE WOULD BE NO MUTINY FROM ANY DIRECTION.

NARRATOR: ON THEIR ARRIVAL IN BEIJING, THE OUTSIDER TROOPS WERE CONFINED TO SUBURBAN MILITARY CAMPS AND SYSTEMATICALLY GROOMED TO CRUSH THE MOVEMENT ONCE AND FOR ALL.

LINK: THE SOLDIERS WERE MOSTLY YOUNG PEASANT MALES WHO CAME INTO THE ARMY AND NOW WERE SENT TO THE CITY.

THEY WERE INDOCTRINATED.

THEY WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY RIOT INSPIRED BY FOREIGN FORCES AND THAT IT WAS THEIR PATRIOTIC DUTY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.

{\an8}MAN: JUNE 1st, PROPAGANDA REPORT ORDERED BY LI PENG.

THE TURMOIL WAS PLANNED, ORGANIZED, AND PREMEDITATED BY A TINY MINORITY OF PEOPLE.

HOSTILE FORCES, ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS FROM INSIDE OR FROM ABROAD HAVE PROVIDED SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL AID TO THE PLOTTERS.

THEY ARE DETERMINED TO PUSH FOR A FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH THE PARTY AND GOVERNMENT.

THEY PULLED TOGETHER THUGS LIKE THE MOTORCYCLED FLYING TIGER GROUP, DARE TO DIE BRIGADE, AND THE ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS.

PLANS WERE MADE TO KIDNAP OR DETAIN PARTY AND STATE LEADERS.

NARRATOR: BY JUNE 2nd, A MASSIVE STATUE DOMINATED THE SQUARE, CREATED BY STUDENTS OF THE FINE ARTS ACADEMY.

MODELED ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AND DUBBED THE GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY, IT HAD BEEN ERECTED IN A CONFRONTATIONAL FACE-OFF WITH THE PORTRAIT OF CHAIRMAN MAO.

FOR A DYING MOVEMENT, IT WAS ONE LAST DEFIANT GESTURE, IF ULTIMATELY FUTILE.

DURING THE DAY, 4 CELEBRATED INTELLECTUALS LED BY LIU XIAOBO AND CHINESE POP SUPERSTAR HOU DEIJAN LAUNCHED AN EMERGENCY HUNGER STRIKE.

ITS AIM--TO FORGE SOLIDARITY WITH THE STUDENTS AND MAKE A FINAL PLEA FOR CALM AND A PEACEFUL RETURN TO THEIR CAMPUSES.

BUT IT WAS ALL IN VAIN.

MAN: JUNE 2nd, EVENING, POLITBURO MEETING.

MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO URGE DENG XIAOPING TO TAKE FIRM ACTION.

THE ARMY NEEDS TO INTERVENE NOW.

MAN: DENG XIAOPING AGREES WITH THE COMMITTEE.

MARTIAL LAW TROOPS SHOULD BEGIN TO CARRY OUT THE CLEARING PLAN AND FINISH IT WITHIN TWO DAYS.

MAN: REFORMIST QIAO SHI ADMITS THAT CLEARING THE SQUARE IS NECESSARY.

UNFORTUNATELY, EVENTS HAVE SHOWN THAT STUDENTS HAD NOT LEFT THE SQUARE SPONTANEOUSLY.

NARRATOR: IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JUNE 3rd, THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY HEADED FOR THE SQUARE.

TIANANMEN WAS ON COURSE TO BECOMING A WAR ZONE.

DENG'S STRATEGIC CLEARING OPERATION HAD BEGUN.

BUT AFTER 7 WEEKS OF HOPE AND RESISTANCE, THE PEOPLE OF BEIJING WERE NOT GOING TO GO DOWN EASILY.

{\an8}[ALL SHOUTING] LINK: IT WAS A WEIRD ATMOSPHERE.

AND I CAN REMEMBER OUR YOUNG DRIVER, HE REACHED DOWN, AND HE PICKED UP A KNIFE.

HE HAD THIS LONG KNIFE, AND HE SAID, "I'M GOING DOWN TO THE SQUARE TO HELP THE STUDENTS."

NARRATOR: AS MORNING BROKE, UNDERCOVER SOLDIERS CONTINUED TO INFILTRATE THE CITY, INTERCEPTED AND DISARMED AT EVERY STAGE.

THE MILITARY STRATEGY WAS STILL UNCLEAR TO THE STUDENTS.WERE THESE WEAPONS SIMPLY FOR INTIMIDATION, OR, UNTHINKABLY, WOULD LIVE AMMUNITION EVENTUALLY BE LOADED?

NARRATOR: ON TIANANMEN SQUARE, A PLATOON OF TROOPS WAS DISPATCHED FROM THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE IN ORDER TO TAKE CONTROL AND SEIZE BACK THEIR STOLEN WEAPONRY.

[ALL SHOUTING] THE WAVE WAS STARTING TO BREAK.

THE FIRST SIGN OF REAL CONFLICT AND OF THE BLOODSHED THAT WAS NOW ALL BUT INEVITABLE.

THE PARTY'S DETERMINATION WAS BECOMING CLEAR.

NOTHING MUST STOP THIS FINAL CRACKDOWN.

{\an8}MAN: JUNE 3rd, 5:00 PM, ORDERS FROM THE POLITBURO TO THE CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION.

AT 9: 00 PM ON JUNE 3rd, PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY, PEOPLE'S ARMED POLICE, ASSISTED BY BEIJING PUBLIC SECURITY, WILL BEGIN TO PUT DOWN THE RIOT THAT HAS ERUPTED IN THE CAPITAL.

MARTIAL LAW TROOPS WILL ARRIVE AT THE SQUARE AT 1: 00 AM ON JUNE 4th AND CLEAR IT BY 6:00 AM.

THEY MUST RESOLUTELY CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE.

ABSOLUTELY NO DELAYS WILL BE PERMITTED.

NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO BLOCK THE ADVANCE OF THE TROOPS.

IF BLOCKING OCCURS, SOLDIERS MAY CLEAR IT USING ALL SELF DEFENSE MEANS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED.

TELEVISION WILL BROADCAST NONSTOP EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE BEIJING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND THE MARTIAL LAW COMMAND.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL ALSO BE BROADCAST OVER LOUDSPEAKERS IN THE SQUARE.

NARRATOR: THE MESSAGE WAS BLUNT.

IF KILLING WAS REQUIRED, THEN SO BE IT.

NARRATOR: THE PARTY'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT HAD LIT UP THE CITY.

ALL ALONG CHANGAN AVENUE, THE MAIN ARTERY TO TIANANMEN, OUTRAGED CITIZENS STARTED BUILDING BARRICADES AND SETTING THE BOULEVARD ABLAZE.

AS WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARTIAL LAW, THEY WERE HELL-BENT ON HOLDING BACK THE ARMY AT ALL COSTS.

BUT THIS TIME, FOR SOME, IT WOULD COME AT A PRICE.

{\an8}[GUNSHOTS] {\an8}[GUNSHOTS] NARRATOR: NEWS OF THE CRACKDOWN HAD BROUGHT MORE AND MORE CITIZENS OUT TO THE STREETS, AND THEY CROWDED OUT EVERY INTERSECTION AROUND THE SQUARE.

BUT THEY WERE THE FIRST TO DISCOVER THE BRUTAL TRUTH BEHIND DENG XIAOPING'S PLAN.

THE AMMUNITION WAS REAL, AND THE DEATH TOLL HAD BEGUN.

MUNRO: TIANANMEN SQUARE WAS GROUND ZERO FOR THE TROOPS THAT WERE CONVERGING FROM ALL POINTS OF THE COMPASS.

BUT THE SCENE OF THE MASSACRE WAS ON THE APPROACH ROADS COMING IN TO THE CITY.

THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TO BLOCK THEM WERE THE CITIZENS, BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR STUDENTS.

I THINK IT'S NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT THE BEIJING CITIZENS FELL IN LOVE WITH THOSE STUDENTS.

THEY JUST COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT THAT THESE STUDENTS WERE GOING TO BE VIOLENTLY ROUNDED UP OR EVEN KILLED.

[ALL SHOUTING] SHEN: I WAS NOT THINKING.

I COULDN'T.

I JUST EXPERIENCED WITHOUT ANY MENTAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION THE MOST HORRIFYING THING IN MY LIFE.

[GUNFIRE] I JUST SAW A FEMALE STUDENT FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSITY WHO TOOK A BULLET ON HER FACE, WHICH TO THIS DAY I BELIEVE THAT BULLET WAS MEANT FOR ME.

AND THEN SHE WAS CARRIED BY 4 PEOPLE AND PASSED IN FRONT OF ME, AND I LOOKED DOWN AND I SAW HER FACE.

NARRATOR: BY THE END OF THE NIGHT, THE MOOD ON TIANANMEN SQUARE REMAINED DEFIANT, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS STILL WAVING THE VICTORY SIGN.

NEWS OF THE SHOOTING HADN'T YET ARRIVED, AND THE DIEHARDS WERE STILL CAMPED OUT AT THE SYMBOLICALLY NAMED MONUMENT TO THE PEOPLE'S HEROES.

{\an8}[APPLAUSE] NARRATOR: BUT THE ATMOSPHERE IN TIANANMEN HAD INSTANTLY TURNED CHAOTIC AND VIOLENT.

WHEN A LONE ARMY TANK APPEARED, IT WAS BLASTED BY PETROL BOMBS.

THAT WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WOULD FOLLOW.

NARRATOR: LOUDSPEAKERS BOOMED OUT ALL OVER THE SQUARE, PROJECTING A THINLY-VEILED THREAT OF IMMINENT REPRESSION.

THE TIMING COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECT.

THE MASSED RANKS OF THE ARMY HAD FINALLY BROKEN THROUGH.

[GUNFIRE] NARRATOR: WITH EVERY POINT OF ENTRY AND EXIT TO TIANANMEN NOW COMPLETELY BLOCKED, THE STUDENTS HAD BEEN HEMMED INTO A STANDOFF.

NARRATOR: THOSE WHO HAD VOWED TO MAINTAIN THE OCCUPATION TO THE BITTER END WERE CONFRONTED WITH AN ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR DILEMMA--TO STAY OR LEAVE?

EXCEPT THAT THIS TIME PEOPLE HAD ALREADY DIED.

AND WHO MIGHT BE NEXT?

SUDDENLY A GROUP OF ABOUT 10 PLA SOLDIERS FORMED A LINE AND STARTED MARCHING SOUTH.

THEY SUDDENLY STOPPED, LOWERED THEIR RIFFLES, AND BEGAN FIRING.

[GUNFIRE] THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING FIRED AT BY 10 SOLDIERS WITH AK-47s IS UNFORGETTABLE.

[SIRENS] I WENT TOWARDS THE STAIRS, THE FRONT STAIRS OF GREAT HALL OF PEOPLE.

I SAW HUNDRED AND HUNDREDS OF TROOPERS BASHED OUT... WITH AUTOMATIC GUNS WITH BAYONETS ON THEM, AND THEY WERE WEARING HELMETS.

THEY WERE EMERGING FROM LIKE A HOLE IN THE GROUND, A SECRET ENTRANCE OR EXIT BELOW THE STAIRS, LITERALLY FROM UNDER THE GROUND.

[ALL SHOUTING] [SIREN] TANG: THAT NOISE OF THE TANKS ROARING IN STILL SO FAR WAS THE LOUDEST NOISE I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

STILL THAT NOISE STAYS WITH ME FOREVER.

MUNRO: THE BEIJING UNITED MEDICAL COLLEGE HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY TENT IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR OF THE SQUARE.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE SCENE THERE.

IT'S...

IT WAS SO MOVING.

ONE YOUNG MAN HAD TAKEN A BULLET TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD.

HE WAS CLEARLY DYING.

I MEAN, THERE WAS BLOOD POURING OUT OF HIS HEAD.

AND THE DOCTOR SAID TO ME, "YOU KNOW, "WE CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING EXCEPT TRY TO MAKE "THESE PEOPLE COMFORTABLE, THESE CASUALTIES, "BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PLASMA, WE HAVE NO DRUGS.

"THE TROOPS ARE NOT ALLOWING US TO TAKE CASUALTIES OUT OF THE SQUARE TO THE HOSPITALS."

THAT'S A WAR CRIME RIGHT OFF.

NARRATOR: IN ONE LAST DITCH ATTEMPT TO AVOID FURTHER CARNAGE, TWO OF THE EMERGENCY HUNGER STRIKERS STILL ON THE SQUARE SET OFF TO NEGOTIATE A TRUCE WITH THE MILITARY.

THEY SAID, "LOOK, GIVE US MORE TIME.

"WE WILL TRY TO CLEAR THE SQUARE.

WE DON'T WANT VIOLENCE."

AND THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF TROOPS IN THE SQUARE SAID, "YOU HAVE LIMITED TIME, BUT IF YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU WILL DESERVE MERIT."

NARRATOR: BUT BY THE TIME THE MOBILE UNITS OF THE 27th ARMY HAD ARRIVED ON THE MONUMENT OF THE PEOPLE, THERE WAS NO DOUBTING THAT THE PARTY HAD BEEN THE VICTOR.

[SINGING IN CHINESE] NARRATOR: AFTER DAYS OF WAITING AND HOPING, THERE WAS NO CHOICE LEFT-- STAY AND DIE OR LEAVE AND BE DEFEATED.

FOR ONE FINAL TIME, IT WAS PUT TO THE VOTE.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE RESULT WAS LEAVE.

[SOBBING] I FELT THE ULTIMATE TOTAL HELPLESSNESS.

HUMAN BODIES AGAINST STATE APPARATUS DICTATORSHIP MACHINES, THE COLD STEEL.

REPORTER: CAN YOU TELL US...

THERE WAS A TV CREW.

AND I REMEMBER THAT MOMENT WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON ME.

MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT I KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO SAY SOMETHING ON CAMERA, OBVIOUSLY A FOREIGN CREW, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL THE WORLD THEY'RE KILLING PEOPLE.

OF COURSE.

I'M SURE, VERY SURE.

{\an8}MANY STUDENTS WERE KILLED.

IT IS SAID 1,000 STUDENTS.

FEEL RIGHT NOW?

I'M VERY ANGRY!

WE ARE JUST FORCED TO DO THAT.

MAN: WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW IS JUST OPPOSITE TO THE PEOPLE'S WILLING.

NARRATOR: ON JUNE 4th, BEIJING'S CITIZENS WOKE TO SCENES OF PURE DEVASTATION.

THE STREETS WERE UNRECOGNIZABLE.

A CITY IN RUINS, PARALYZED WITH SHOCK.

I LEARNED LATER ON FROM A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND WHO ALSO HAS BEEN CLOSE WITH THE DENG FAMILY, EVEN WHEN THEY SURROUNDED TIANANMEN SQUARE AND STARTED SHOOTING, THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS ON EDGES OF THEIR SEATS, GETTING ALL THIS LIVE REPORT.

THE MOMENT THEY TOOK OVER AND THE STUDENTS WERE FORCED TO PEACEFULLY WITHDRAW FROM THE SQUARE, AND THEY ALL LET OUT A SIGH.

THIS IS DENG'S FAMILY.

AND THEY WENT TO SLEEP.

NARRATOR: ON JUNE 5th, IN THE WAKE OF A SAVAGE SUPPRESSION THAT HAD DEVASTATED BEIJING, NO ONE EXPECTED THERE WOULD BE ONE DEFIANT LAST STAND.

BUT WHAT A STAND IT WAS.

MUNRO: OF COURSE EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE PICTURE OF THE MAN WHO STOOD IN FRONT OF THE TANKS.

THIS MAN LOOKED ABOUT SORT OF IN HIS THIRTIES.

IMAGINE THE AUDACITY AND BRAVERY OF THIS MAN.

THIS ONE MAN HAS BROUGHT THE PLA TO A HALT.

REPORTER: HE IS CLIMBING IT.

HE'S CLIMBING ON IT.

MUNRO: WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT HIM AGAIN AFTER THAT.

HE IS AN ENIGMA.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE EPITOMIZES THE WHOLE MOVEMENT.

HE REPRESENTS TENS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BEIJING CITIZENS AND CITIZENS FROM CITIES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO CAME OUT TO SAY NO AND TRIED TO STOP THIS MILITARY RAPE OF THEIR CITY BY THE ARMY.

NARRATOR: THE CLAMPDOWN ON TIANANMEN DID NOT JUST END WITH THE CLEARING OF THE SQUARE.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ARRESTS WERE MADE.

OTHERS, SOME OF THEM WORKERS LABELED AS RIOTERS, WERE EXECUTED.

AND DESPITE THE PARTY'S RECOURSE TO MILITARY BRUTALITY, DENG CONTINUED TO PUT HIS SPIN ON THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASSACRE.

NARRATOR: HE HAD SUPPRESSED A COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY RIOT AND RESTORED STABILITY TO THE NATION WHILE DENYING THE HUMAN COST.

NARRATOR: FOR DENG XIAOPING, THIS CASE WAS NOW CLOSED.

THE EVENTS OF THE PREVIOUS 7 WEEKS HAD BEEN JUST A BLIP IN THE SUCCESS OF HIS NEW DEAL FOR CHINA.

LINK: MY FEELING, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT OF THIS, OF WHY HE CHOSE A MASSACRE, WAS TO SLAM THE LID ON IT ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND IT WORKED.

IT INTIMIDATED NOT ONLY PEOPLE IN BEIJING, BUT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THE INTIMIDATION HAS LASTED UNTIL TODAY.

[MAN SHOUTS] [CHINESE NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING] NARRATOR: 30 YEARS ON, THERE IS NO MEMORIAL TO THE EVENTS OF 1989 IN TIANANMEN SQUARE.

WILL THERE EVER BE?

THOUGH CHINA IS NOW A GREAT POWER OF THE 21st CENTURY, THE COMMUNIST PARTY STILL RULES WITH AN IRON FIST.

ALL MEMORY OF THE TRAGEDY OF TIANANMEN HAS BEEN SUPPRESSED, AND THE PARTY WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

SHEN: FOR 30 YEARS, I WROTE ABOUT TIANANMEN AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

IT'S A FORM OF THERAPY, AND I STILL VERY EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED FOR ME.

I CAN MOVE ON AND I LIVE RELATIVELY A NORMAL LIFE.

BUT MY FELLOW STUDENTS AND MY FELLOW COUNTRYMAN IN CHINA DID NOT HAVE THAT CHANCE.

NARRATOR: IN THE WAKE OF THE TIANANMEN CRACKDOWN, 21 OF ITS KEY PLAYERS WERE CONDEMNED AS CHINA'S MOST WANTED CRIMINALS.

NUMBER ONE WAS WANG DAN, WHO SPENT 5 YEARS IN PRISON BEFORE BEING FREED.

7 OTHERS, INCLUDING WUER KAIXI, CHAI LING, AND WANG CHAOHUA, FLED TO AVOID ARREST AND NOW LIVE IN PERMANENT EXILE.

THEY WILL HAVE NO SECOND CHANCE AT CHANGING THE COURSE OF CHINA'S HISTORY.

WUER: WE ACHIEVED SO MUCH BY THE END OF MAY.

WE HAVE CHANGED THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF CHINA.

SO MUCH ACHIEVEMENT TO GIVE AWAY WAS A DEBATE OF WHETHER STAYING OR LIVING IN THE SQUARE.

OF COURSE, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

WE MADE THE DEMAND.

THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT RESPOND.

THEN THE CROWD, THE PEOPLE, DECIDE TO STAY, APPLYING THE PRESSURE, AND ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THAT IS THEIR GLORIOUS DECISION.