China: 'Tank Man', the Tiananmen Hero...Alive in Taiwan(All Hail to Tank Man!)

Yonhap News (via daum.net) ^ | 06/04/06 | Chung Joon-ho

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my translation

'Tank Man,' the Tiananmen Hero...Alive in Taiwan  

 

(Hong Kong= Yonhap News) Chung Joon-ho reporting = The  whereabout of the man who blocked tank (column) during Tiananmen Democracy Protest in 1989 and had become the symbol of the democracy movement has been finally uncovered. His name is Wang Weilin .

Ming-bao of Hong Kong reported on June 4th that Wang escaped to Taiwan fleeing from Chinese authorities' dragnet at the time, and is currently an adviser (on ceramic artifacts and antiques to) Taiwan's National Palace Museum in southern Taiwan.

On June 5, 1989, Wang stood in front of (a column of)  4 tanks entering Tiananmen Square, blocking its advance,  whose photo turned himself into a symbol of the uprising, but had disappeared since then, his whereabout remaining a mystery.

The world media which published the photo all lauded his courage, calling him the great hero of 20th century.

 There has been a rumor that Jiang Zemin who inherited power after the Tiananmen Uprising gave confidential order to track down Wang Weilin and executed him in secret, but it turned out to be false in the end.

 

According a professor who claimed to be his friend,  he was the captain of the Mawangduei Archaeology Team of Changsha, Hunan(my note: Mawangduei is the site of well-known ancient tombs) in early June 1989 when  the pro-democracy demonstrations broke out in the Chinese capital.  He traveled with a union group to Beijing to take part.

Wang Weilin became the member of Beijing Worker's Self-governing Association. On June 5th, he blocked a column of advancing tanks. Afterwards, he escaped Beijing with the help of his colleagues, and hid at some other locations for three years and seven months.

 

Wang Weilin is (not a real name but) an alias he used while working at the archeology team.

After arriving in Taiwan via Hong Kong, he got married there. While he is not in good health, he nevertheless insisted he wanted to convey to Chinese people the ideal of democracy and freedom by revealing his whereabout.

Wang Dan, one of the ring leaders of student movement at the time, proclaimed on the 17th anniversary of Tiananmen Uprising, "The memory of Tiananmen Uprising may be fading, but I am convinced that the day will come when the meaning of Tiananmen Democracy Uprising would come alive again."

Wang Dan was jailed for 10 years after the uprising, and later took political asylum in U.S. in '98. He is now pursuing Ph.D. degree in History at Harvard University. He is still active in promoting democracy and human right in China, including going on hunger strike at the anniversary every year. 

Wang Jun-tao, who also led the democracy protest and a member of Communist Youth League along with Wang Dan, was arrested in '91 for conspiracy to overthrow government, and sentenced to 13 years in prison, and jailed. He went to U.S. in '94. He got his Ph. D. degree at Columbia University recently, according to Asia Weekly. 

jooho@yna.co.kr

 

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

Interesting, he is an archeologist. I thought that he was just a college kid.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Darkwolf377]

Thanks for posting this. I'm trying to think of other famous folks whose whereabouts are unknown (outside of celebrities, hwo I don't care about).

[MadIvan]

I am sbsolutely delighted that he is alive. What he did took real courage, and he is an icon of liberty.

Better still, he's in a free country.

Regards, Ivan

[TigerLikesRooster]

Another article from Taiwan's wire-service:

TIANANMEN SQUARE 'TANK MAN' REPORTEDLY LIVING IN TAIWAN

[Cringing Negativism Network]

The National Palace Museum is in southern Taiwan?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #6

That is what the article said. Is it in Taipei?

[Ostlandr]

Hail the hero! Confusion to the Chi-Comms! Let freedom and democracy sweep across the globe.

[King Prout]

one of you bones dudes.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I suppose one might read that as Wang is currently living in southern Taiwan as a consultant to the National Palace Museum, which is in northern Taiwan just outside Taipei...

What a miraculous image that was - like the fall of the Berlin Wall.

I've always presumed the story did not have a happy ending.

[Names Ash Housewares]

I hope it is true. I want to see more confirmation.

[Steve Van Doorn]

"is currently an adviser (on ceramic artifacts and antiques to) Taiwan's National Palace Museum in southern Taiwan."

i doubt he will working there tomorrow if that is really him.

I remember there was reports that the Tank crew was either executed or had long prison sentences. and the "tank man" was executed... but obviously at that time reports where sketchy at best.

[StJacques]

Anyone care to say that one man can't make a difference?

I am guessing he is using the name Wang Weilin to protect family and friends who remain behind. The more things change . . . But even though it seems unfair that we do not get to know the real name of this hero -- if ever a man deserved to have his name known, this one does -- I will still do everything I can to remember the name Wang Weilin, because that is the most I can do to honor him.

[at bay]

Of course he will be there tomorrow......Apart from tanks, I wonder what else this guy eats for breakfast.

[Spktyr]

My question is, how does he manage to walk with balls that big?

[jwh_Denver]

Don't bring tanks to a flag fight.

Unforgettable memory.

[hoagy62]

That man is nothing less than a walking, talking Middle Finger in the face of the ChiComms! I love it!!!

[wai-ming]

T'anks for the update. I always wondered what happened to that guy. Glad to hear he is alive and well.

May the world never forget what happened on this date in 1989 (Tiananmen Square). In Cantonese, the words luhk sei (06/04) sound like the words for "Mainland died." Part of Mainland China died that day.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #18

Yeah, "Land Died."

[ConservativeMan55]

LOL

[Tai_Chung]

There has been a rumor that Jiang Zemin who inherited power after the Tiananmen Uprising gave confidential order to track down Wang Weilin and executed him in secret, but it turned out to be false in the end.

If they never caught him, how do they know they rumor is false?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #21

Because he turned up in Taiwan today.:)

[Joe Boucher]

Someday the Wang Welins of China will unite to crush the chi-coms who most assuradly deserve to be crushed.
During the heady days of the democracy movement I know I was excited for the Chineese people. Only to have aspirations crushed and killed.
The Chineese deserve better then the communists. Hopefully a new boxer rebellion will someday break out and give the commies their come upance.

[CDHart]

I remember watching this on TV -- it was devastating. Especially when CNN (I think it was CNN) kept saying that the Chinese government was going to stop them from broadcasting. We watched as the uprising continued and then nothing, CNN was cut off because the Chinese government didn't want a record of what happened next.

Carolyn

[SkyPilot]

Good news.

Many of the others didn't make it out alive.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #25

Don't start on it. There are literally hundreds of grisly photos showing bloody mangled, crushed bodies. Some turned into meat pies. I hate to imagine how the place smelled like let alone looked like.

[Strategerist]

Interesting, he is an archeologist. I thought that he was just a college kid

Actually most people in the know never thought he was a college kid based on his appearance at the time. This was covered pretty well by the PBS Frontline on "Tank Man."

Quite a bit of mythology about what happened in those days....actually, not much of the massacre happened in Tienanmen Square, and most of the people killed were NOT college students - the students ended up surrendering.

The vast majority of the (probably in the thousands) killeds were by the Army trying to GET to Tienanmen Square - and most of the people killed were just average Joe Schmoe Middle-Age adults like Tank Man trying to block the Army from GETTING to Tienanmen Square and happened in the outer regions of the City.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #27

It is true that there were a lot of average guys, working class, involved. Students got the highlight, but it was a popular revolt. If the next uprising breaks out, it would be far larger than TAM Uprising.

[Kakaze]

Whether, this report is true or not, it's good to remind the world of this mans actions. He literally made a "One Man Stand".

It's the type of event that our children need to see and hear about every day. We live in a very unique situation, we are part of the American Experiment. Strong as we are, were still a young nation. Our enemies are many both around the world and here at home. Modern examples, of such supreme sacrifice are rare.

I honestly, hope this man is alive and living well, he deserves it he's done more than his part.

[PGalt]

BTTT!

[OldFriend]

I fail to understand why his whereabouts are being made public.

But then, maybe I do understand.

The MSM is embarrassed by such courage and wishes to see the man punished.

[ovrtaxt]

Awesome. I was wondering about him just the other day.

We never know when events will converge and place us in a position to change the world. He has become an anonymous icon.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #31

He wants to remind Chinese of what happened by stepping out into media coverage.

[Maigrey]

I have to laugh at the mediots who applaud courage at denouncing our way of life, but that one image there is a testimony to real courage: facing death but still standing there.

[Cincinnatus]

The Man With the Briefcase

[StAnDeliver]

The Chinese deserve better then the communists. Hopefully a new Boxer Rebellion will someday break out and give the commies their comeuppance.

The PLA worry about it night and day. Keeps 'em up late. I love it. Schadenfreude.

Wouldn't take much more than a minor food riot in Beijing to prime the pump of democratic revolution.

[Quix]

Thanks much.

But he'd best leave Taiwan soonish. China's coming.

[Straight Vermonter]

My oldest son was born on June 2, 1989. What a week. I don't think I will ever forget a minute of it.

[Wuli]

I want that picture displayed prominently in the area of the State Department where those assigned to the "Asia desk" work.

[Cincinnatus]

I always thought it would be a great idea to build a statue of the "Goddess of Democracy" and place it permanently in front of the Chinese Embassy. The current occupants would be incensed and the future occupants thrilled.

[Wuli]

It was not the size of his "balls" but the size of his conviction at that moment - that "taking a stand" at that moment was worth risking his life. Many others in Tianamen Square did similarly that day and paid with their lives.

I was in a small Chinese language book store in New York City that day. The staff had little time for the customers. Everyone was listenting to a radio or watching a TV, while talking on a telephone to someone in China, letting them know what was really going on. It was as much as "being there" as was ever possible for me.

You could see and hear the mixture of profound anguish and profound hope in the faces and voices of the Chinese staff as they spoke to their compatriots in China. None of the customers or visitors attempted to turn the staff to conducting the business of the store. No one seemed to miss the fact that something much more important was going on.

[texianyankee]

"I hope it is true. I want to see more confirmation."

Same here. It's hard to believe the ChiComs would let him slip through their claws.

[Valin]

FANTASTIC!
I pray Wang Weilin has a long and happy life.

[Ben Hecks]

According to their website, the National Palace Museum has a southern branch.

http://www.npm.gov.tw/index.htm

[Cinnamon]

how do we know if this is the same man and not a plant by the Commies? *takes red pill*

[AJFavish]

http://www.allanfavish.com/tian.htm

ARMY TROOPS FIRE ON BEIJING CROWDS

by

Allan J. Favish

[This letter to the editor was first published in the Los Angeles Times on June 10, 1989, part II, at page 9. The letter was in response to the Tian An Men massacre by Communist Chinese troops.]

Dear Editor:

Seeing the televised excerpts of demonstrations at the various communist Chinese embassies and consulates throughout the United States, I noticed that the demonstrators appear to be almost exclusively people of Chinese descent. This disturbs me. Although the fight for freedom in communist China is primarily the responsibility of the Chinese people, it is a fight that should be actively supported by all people who cherish freedom.

Personally, I believe that if freedom-loving Chinese citizens are willing to take a bullet in the back at Tian An Men Square, the least I can do is demonstrate in support of their cause in front of the Chinese consulate on a safe street in Los Angeles.

On June 4th I was one of the relatively few Caucasians at the demonstration in front of the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. A makeshift memorial was assembled consisting of candles, flowers and a makeshift coffin. As I stood near the coffin, a young man of Chinese descent, wearing a black shirt, approached the memorial. On the back of his shirt was the color photograph that appeared on the front page of the Los Angeles Times showing the Goddess of Democracy statue in Tian An Men Square with the large picture of Mao in the background. After leaving a flower near the candles, the young man placed a small American flag on the coffin and quietly walked away.

My eyes were filled with tears.

Regards,

Allan J. Favish
http://www.allanfavish.com

[Coyoteman]

Interesting, he is an archeologist.

Archaeologists are more than just pretty faces!

[Right Brother]

LET'S NOT FORGET 'OUR' TANK MAN

[AJFavish]

PBS" Frontline Show: "The Tank Man" viewable online at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/

[FreeReign]

The were a few Chinese government officials sympathetic to the protestors at that time. Just enough anyway to make the government's reponse disorganized.

Would tank man have gotten away alive without General Secretary Zhao Ziyang.