Vigil Participants Defy Beijing's 'redline'

Organisers say 115,000 people joined the annual candlelight vigil at Victoria Park on Monday to mark the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, despite boycotts from major university student unions. That's slightly higher than a year ago. But the police put the turnout at 17,000 at the peak of the event.

Those taking part in the vigil chanted "end one-party rule," in defiance of fears that they could cross Beijing's ‘redline’ and place those who may decide to take part in future Legco elections at risk of being banned.

They also called for the vindication of the pro-democracy movement across the border 29 years ago, as they formed a sea of candles.

The unstable weather did not dampen their spirits, even though many of them had to stand in the football pitches after heavy showers, instead of sitting on the ground.

"We have to treasure every moment that we can come here and we can stay here or even tell people what actually what happened 29 years ago because future generations do not know what happened", said one woman.

Another woman said it was "very important to pass the history on and let more young people know what had happened in China in 1989."

"People will forget history. Therefore I think I need to come", a man said.

Addressing the crowd, the chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China Albert Ho said a ruthless regime will not last forever.

He also sought to respond to criticism that the commemoration was becoming a ritual, saying they did not only participate in a ceremony, but also to pass on the victims' unfulfilled dreams.

Ho said he was happy with the higher turnout from a year ago. "Although the turnout is only slightly more than that of last year, which, of course, is by no means a small number, I'm still hopefully expecting that next year we'll be having a really, really very high turnout."

Ho also said the alliance will continue to work hard to attract more young people to attend future vigils.