Tiananmen leader's 'diary' revealed
A diary which publishers claim is that of the man many blame for the Tiananmen massacre is to be published in Hong Kong.It gives details on events immediately before and after the killing of workers and students in Beijing in June 1989.
Publishers say the author is Li Peng, the man who announced martial law in Beijing shortly before troops moved in.In the diary Li declared that he was willing to die to stop the pro-democracy protests.The news of the diary comes on the 21st anniversary of the massacre.
Publishers say the author is Li Peng, the man who announced martial law in Beijing shortly before troops moved in.In the diary Li declared that he was willing to die to stop the pro-democracy protests.The news of the diary comes on the 21st anniversary of the massacre.
The book, entitled Li Peng's June 4 Diary, will be published by New Century Press at the end of this month.The man behind the project is Bao Pu, the son of Bao Tong, a senior advisor to the head of the Chinese Communist Party at the time of the Tiananmen protests.
'It provides amazing details of how decisions were made and how the order was carried out, and how the leaders reached internal consensus,' said Bao Pu, talking about the diary.'These are the kind of things that are not in official records.'
The manuscript was handed to Mr Bao by an intermediary - he does not want to say who or how it was given to him.
He admits that there are questions about the diary's authenticity, which the publishers say they have worked hard to resolve.
He admits that there are questions about the diary's authenticity, which the publishers say they have worked hard to resolve.
If the diary is authentic, it could be his attempt to justify the actions he and his colleagues took 21 years ago.
There is already a published account of the discussions among China's leaders during the time of the 1989 protests.
There is already a published account of the discussions among China's leaders during the time of the 1989 protests.
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