Hu Yaobang

Hu Yaobang (Chinese: 胡耀邦 Wade-Giles: Hu Yao-pang) (November 20, 1915 – April 15, 1989) was a leader of the People's Republic of China.

Death and the Tiananmen protests

Hu Yaobang passed away due to a heart attack two years later at a Party Political Bureau meeting on April 15, 1989. His death helped spark the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. His ideas of freedom of speech and freedom of press in 1986 greatly influenced the students.

Related Topics:
Heart attack - Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 - Freedom of speech - Freedom of press - 1986

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Plans to rehabilitate Hu Yaobang were reported in the Washington Post September 9, 2005. Based on Chinese sources, the article "China Plans To Honor A Reformer" reported planning for events on November 20, the 90th anniversary of his birth. An official biography and a collection of his writings are slated for release. The biography is a source of controversy as there is a three volume biography written by former aides to Hu Yaobang which remains unpublished and has been taken into the control of the government. A memorial is planned in Hunan where he was born. While viewed by some observers as a possible preliminary step to re-evaluation of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, such a move continues to be rejected.

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According to recent reports, the Party plans to officially celebrate the 90th anniversary of Hu Yaobang's birth, with activities at the People's Hall on November 20 2005.

Related Topics:
November 20 - 2005

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This will be the CCP's first official recognition of Hu Yaobang since his death. Commentators have suggested that the Party sees recent mass withdrawals as a crisis, with factions inside the Party agreed that they should give "save the CCP" the highest priority.

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Memorials in recognition of the date of someone's birth or death are often signs of political trends within China, with some pointing to the prospect of further reform. This is countered however by statements from the Party that it should learn from the ideologies of Cuba and North Korea.

Related Topics:
Cuba - North Korea

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