On June 4, 2025, the city of Munich in Germany commemorated the 36th anniversary of the June Fourth Incident, where people gathered to remember the victims of the tragic event. The event was organized by the Hong Kong Democracy Express in Germany (HKDE e.V.) and the International Society for Human Rights in Germany (IGFM), and took place simultaneously in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich.
Citizens from all walks of life gathered at Max-Jeosph Square in Munich in front of the Royal Palace and the Opera House. They displayed banners, lit candles with the words “89-64,” laid white roses, observed a minute of silence, and mourned those who were killed by the Chinese Communist Party while participating in the Chinese democracy movement.
The event also aimed to remind everyone not to forget June Fourth and the brutality of the Chinese Communist regime. Without the removal of the Communist Party, the people of the country would not have a safe place to live, and the world would not have peace.
Jürgen Thierack, the head of the International Human Rights Association in Munich, emphasized the importance of remembering history, especially the Tiananmen Square Massacre, which remains one of the most serious acts of massacre to this day. He urged people not to overlook the authoritarian rule in China and to remember the significance of events like the commemoration of June Fourth.
A mainland Chinese student studying in Germany, Ms. Song, who recently arrived in the country, learned about the event on Instagram and decided to attend. She expressed her understanding of the June Fourth Massacre and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about it to ensure that more people are informed about this historical tragedy due to the censorship and control of information by the Chinese authorities.
Moreover, she discussed the oppressive political system in China, pointing out that the lack of democracy and freedom stem from the one-party dictatorship, whereby the voices of the people are suppressed, and they have no autonomy to make choices. Ms. Song believed that the system itself is the root cause of the high levels of repression experienced in China.
Another mainland Chinese student, Mr. Li, shared how the historical memory of June Fourth has been systematically erased by the Chinese authorities, leading many to forget about the massacre altogether. He mentioned the importance of revisiting such events overseas and understanding the significance of commemorating them for future generations.
A Hong Kong student, Ms. Chen, spoke about her childhood memories of the annual candlelight vigil in Victoria Park to mourn the students who were killed during the protests. She highlighted the diminishing freedom of speech in Hong Kong post-2019 and expressed her concerns about the eroding democratic rights in the city.
Ms. Chen’s sense of loss of freedom of expression in Hong Kong drove her to attend the event in Germany. She stressed the inhumanity of the government’s actions during the June Fourth Massacre and emphasized the importance of standing up for rights and liberties.
A student from Macau, reflecting on the lack of public commemoration in his home country, expressed solidarity with Hong Kong’s struggle for democracy and attended the event in Germany to pay respect to the victims of the June Fourth Massacre. He shared his grandmother’s tragic experiences under the Communist regime, which motivated him to participate and commemorate those who suffered under the oppressive system.
Erkin Zunun, Deputy Chairman of the World Congress Executive Committee, extended support to the Chinese groups involved in the Tiananmen Square democratic movement and mourned the victims of the massacre, including Uighur students. The World Congress emphasized their solidarity with those persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party and highlighted the importance of supporting the oppressed.
In Munich, a German sinologist, fluent in Mandarin with a Taiwanese accent, shared his reasons for attending the event. He emphasized the importance of commemoration and solidarity, mentioning the diverse groups present, including friends from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, united in remembrance and in defense of democracy.
Despite the rain, the atmosphere at the event was described as warm and friendly, showcasing the unity and determination of participants to continue honoring the memory of the victims of the June Fourth Massacre.