Speech of Abdurehim Gheni at the 37th Anniversary Commemoration of the Tiananmen Square Massacre
BY：Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur
Dear friends, defenders of democracy and
freedom,
Today, we stand together on the Dam
Square in Amsterdam, the heart of the Netherlands and Europe. We are here to
mark the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989.
This was one of the darkest and bloodiest events in human history.
From this historic square, I pay my
deepest respect to all freedom fighters who gave their lives for freedom and
justice in Tiananmen Square. I especially remember the Uyghur students who
stood in the front lines, proudly wearing their Uyghur doppa—the symbol of our
national identity. They held their flag high and shouted in their mother
tongue: "Qozghal!" (Rise up!). My respect also goes to brave leaders
like Örkesh Dölet,
who became the voice of this historic movement.
Dear friends,
In 1989, the Chinese communist regime
entered Tiananmen Square with tanks. They brutally shot and killed innocent
students. The square turned into a sea of blood. The regime wanted to destroy
the hope for freedom with violence. But they forgot one thing: you cannot crush
the spirit of freedom with tanks!
After that massacre, the Chinese
government wanted to hide its political crisis. Therefore, they turned their
extreme violence toward occupied East Turkestan. On April 5, 1990, they
brutally crushed the national liberation movement in Barin, causing the horrific
Barin massacre. The Uyghur people were among the first to bring the torch of
democracy to Beijing. But since the 1990s, China labeled us as the "enemy
of the state." Today, our entire nation is facing an open genocide. Why?
Because the Chinese dictators are terrified of the spirit of freedom in the
Uyghur DNA!
Friends, Chinese oppression does not
stop at the concentration camps in our homeland!
Today, the transnational repression,
intimidation, and psychological terror of the Chinese communist government have
reached the democratic soil of the Netherlands, where we live. On February 14,
during the Chinese New Year event at the stadhuis (city hall) of Den Haag, I
stood there alone for a peaceful protest. I held a banner exposing the ongoing
Uyghur genocide in occupied East Turkestan. On that very ground of justice and
democracy, I was brutally attacked. Chinese security guards used physical and
psychological terror against me!
The Chinese regime violated freedom of
speech in the heart of the free Netherlands. Our people have lived under
occupation for over 70 years. I am a demonstrator fighting for the freedom of
my people. Yet, those attackers shouted at me: "You belong in a
concentration camp! You deserve to die! I will kill you!" This is the
exact same dictatorship that shot students in 1989. It is the same terror that
locks up millions of people in East Turkestan today. Now, we see this terror
right here in Europe!
But we do not silence, and we do not
bow!
Our rightful struggle and spirit of resistance have awakened the Dutch government. From this square, I express my deep and loud gratitude to the Dutch Parliament and the municipality of The Hague! The Parliament did not look away; they passed a special motion (motie) against this violence. The Mayor of Den Haag condemned the attack as "unacceptable" and decided: China is banned from holding any future New Year events inside the city hall of The Hague!
This is a victory for truth and justice over the vile transnational repression of the Chinese government! This proves that Uyghurs will stand up against injustice anywhere in the world and call humanity to justice!
Dear attendees,
Today, as we remember the victims of
June 4, the Chinese people and the world must know one truth: Uyghurs were the
pioneers of this democracy and freedom struggle. For keeping that torch alive,
our people are paying the ultimate price with a genocide today.
We demand that Chinese dissidents and all free people recognize and support the Uyghur struggle for freedom, independence, and human rights. Because without a free East Turkestan, there will never be democracy in China. Without freedom for Uyghurs, there will be no justice in this world!
The spirit of "Qozghal!" (Rise
up!) lives on forever. This spark of freedom will burn brighter. It will break
the Chinese dictatorial regime. It will bring freedom to the Chinese people,
and it will spark liberation for all occupied nations under Chinese rule: East
Turkestan, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, Cantonia, Guangxi, and Manchuria!
(Scand loudly and powerfully from here:)
Down with the dictatorial Chinese
regime!
Down with occupation and colonialism!
Freedom for East Turkestan!
Freedom for Tibet!
Freedom for Southern Mongolia!
Freedom for Cantonia!
Freedom for Guangxi!
V Freedom for Manchuria!
Freedom for all Chinese people!
Thank you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qdvi-hnzis
