On Tiananmen Square Anniversary, Hear Courageous 1989 Report By Radio Beijing's "Radio Tankman"

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[Editor's note: We publish these words as CA Governor Jerry Brown is in the People's Republic of China eager to discuss climate change. One reason why that regime is the world's worst emitter of greenhouse gases and poisons its people with pollution levels unimaginable here is because it jails independent environmental activists who say and do things the regime doesn't want said or done. One can only imagine the progress that might have been made over the past 28 years if progressive Chinese citizens could speak inconvenient truths to their government, a regime that maintains the "Great Firewall of China" to prevent a billion of its own people from accessing the worldwide web. One day this will change, and when it does, Chinese citizens may shake their fists at us for letting corporate indifference and U.S. politicians from both parties put benefits for themselves ahead of people and the planet.]

(June 3, 2017, 7:50 a.m.) -- LBREPORT.com recalls below the action of a courageous Chinese radio journalist that aired 28 years ago tonight -- on June 3, 1989 at 9 p.m. PDT [June 4 noon Beijing time.] In our opinion, this man is the audio counterpart to the visually iconic Tiananmen Square "Tankman."

This writer spent much of that day watching CNN's coverage of what took place at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. That night, curious to hear how that regime would portray this, I tuned into Radio Beijing's English language shortwave broadcast beamed nightly to North America.

You can hear on-demand below what I heard that night. Because shortwave radio signals bounce off the ionosphere on sometimes differing paths, you'll hear some fading and phase distortion. The text is also transcribed below.

Try to imagine what it must have been like for this man as he entered the Chinese government's broadcast center that day. The capital was under martial law. Tanks were in the streets. Armed troops were visible.

Think of what must have gone through this man's mind as he sat down down behind a microphone...and spoke the words you can hear below:

[Scroll down for further.]

To launch audio, click here

This is Radio Beijing. Please remember June the third, 1989. The most tragic event happened in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
Thousands of people, most of them innocent civilians, were killed by fully armed soldiers when they forced their way into the city. Among the killed are our colleagues at Radio Beijing.
The soldiers were riding on armored vehicles and used machine guns against thousands of local residents and students who tried to block their way. When the army convoys made a breakthrough, soldiers continued to spray their bullets indiscriminately at crowds in the street.
Eyewitnesses say some armored vehicles even crushed footsoldiers who hesitated in front of the resisting civilians.
Radio Beijing [sic] English Department deeply mourns those [sic] died in the tragic incident and appeals to all its listeners to join our protest for the gross violation of human rights and the most barbarous suppression of the people.
Because of this abnormal situation here in Beijing, there is no other news we could bring you. We sincerely ask for your understanding and thank you for joining us at this most tragic moment.

Like the Tiananmen "Tankman," this man's identity and fate remain uncertain. We've seen conflicting accounts as to who he is and what happened to him.

It remains for journalists worldwide to find out who he is, to learn what happened to him, if he is alive to seek the opportunity to speak with him...and to honor his courageous and principled action.

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