Tianjin dissident Zhang Changhong was released from prison for the second time after serving a four-year sentence for “provocation and troublemaking.” Zhang stated that local authorities continued to monitor him upon his release. Over the years, Zhang has been repeatedly arrested, detained, and even forcibly admitted to a psychiatric hospital for advocating for the reevaluation of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
In an interview at his home, Zhang Changhong told Radio Free Asia on May 6th that the local police have been monitoring his “ideological condition” since his release, despite him only expressing his steadfast belief in historical truth.
Zhang Changhong was sentenced to three years and three months in 2017, released in 2020, and then imprisoned again in 2021 for “provocation and troublemaking,” receiving another four-year sentence. He was released on April 19th this year. Zhang remarked, “In reality, all I did was reveal the truth about the Tiananmen Square massacre, which had a significant impact in public discourse.”
According to Zhang, the police view his discussions on the Tiananmen Square protests as challenging the official narrative. They have told him that the government has already drawn conclusions regarding the events of 1989 and any attempts to revisit the issue are seen as provocative behavior. Zhang noted, “The first time I was in Zhangbei Prison, the second was in Tianjin Prison.”
However, upon returning home to Tianjin after his release, his life has not returned to normal. He mentioned, “The local police station chief just called, saying he will be coming to my house soon. Let’s make it Sunday for the visit.”
Before the interview could conclude, the police arrived at his doorstep. Zhang hurriedly ended the call, saying, “I have to hang up now, there’s knocking at the door. The local police station is here, they’ll come by in about a week or so, they’re knocking right now. Bye for now.”
During the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, Zhang personally went to the square to support the students and later gave a speech at Tianjin University, sharing his observations and experiences in Beijing. This led to his detention for over four months. Over the following years, he continued to put up posters commemorating the Tiananmen Square protests, advocating for justice, and was detained multiple times.
In 2011, during the Middle East “Jasmine Revolution,” similar peaceful actions emerged in China. Zhang Changhong displayed a poster in Tianjin stating, “Tahrir Square in Egypt, Tiananmen Square in China – Same Appeals, Different Outcomes,” and was taken away by the police.
Amidst the prolonged censorship of information related to the Tiananmen Square protests by the Chinese government, Zhang Changhong is seen as one of the few individuals who openly express dissent and maintain a commitment to commemoration.
As the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests approaches, Zhang Changhong’s release comes with continued surveillance, underlining the high cost borne by those who persist in preserving historical memory and reflecting the ongoing taboos in Chinese society related to historical narratives, freedom of speech, and political expression.
Another dissident, Mr. Zhao, remarked that Zhang Changhong’s experiences exemplify the significant sacrifices made by those who uphold historical memories and highlight the persistent taboos in Chinese society regarding historical discourse, freedom of speech, and political expression.
“I hope that our country can embark on the path to democracy,” Zhang Changhong expressed this sentiment during an interview in 2013, and over a decade later, he remains steadfast in his stance.