As the protests grew, their demands expanded to include the ouster of corrupt leaders and democratic reforms. When the numbers in the square topped 1 million, party elders and hard-liners feared their legitimacy would be forever diminished and decided to strike back. Supported by tanks and other armored vehicles, soldiers began moving into Beijing on June 3, and in the early hours of the next day began firing into astonished crowds that tried to block their way. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, are believed to have been killed on the city's streets. Chinese officials insist no one died in Tiananmen Square itself.
Most Chinese dissidents are in jail, in exile or in hiding, unable to publicly mark the crackdown.
Most ordinary Chinese prefer not to discuss it, and even victims' families are often afraid to speak out. Ding and 30 other people sent a letter to China's legislature demanding a full account of the crackdown. A similar petition last year went unanswered, and so far there has been no reply to this year's letter, she said. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Back to the top Feedback Send us your comments.