Günter Nooke, the Federal Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office, issued the following statement today (2 June) to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on 4 June 1989:

“The Chinese leadership's violent crushing of the student protest on Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989 was a severe blow for human rights in China. I appeal to the Chinese leadership finally to release the remaining detainees after twenty years in prison and to see that justice is done to the victims and their families.

Our serious and sincere human rights dialogue with China aims also to improve freedom of opinion in China. In this context we will continue to press for the appropriate resolution of the Tiananmen Square legacy.”