Calls for China to account for Tiananmen

Updated June 4, 2008 15:25:40

A Chinese policeman patrols Tiananmen Square ahead of the anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests. [AFP]

A United States Department of State spokesman has urged China to give a full account of the 1989 crackdown at Tiananmen Square and release prisoners taken during the protests.

The request comes as China-based human rights lawyer Teng Biao renewed his call for the Chinese government to release all prisoners jailed after the student-led demonstrations.

It is the 19th anniversary of the uprising, in which thousands of students gathered in Tiananmen Square demanding political reform, and only 65 days until the Olympics.

But our reporter in Beijing, Amanda Morgan, reports that 19 years later the square is still heavily-patrolled by police.

The Tiananmen pro-democracy movement is a taboo subject in China.

The state-run media has been silent on the issue, but human rights lawyer Teng Biao wants that to change.

"I think the Olympics should be an opportunity to make China go towards a liberal democracy," he said.

"It's a good opportunity to release the political prisoners."

Human Rights Watch says as of 2004 at least 130 people arrested during the student protests were still in jail.