Abstract

Chinese Salon and CU Social Documentary Film Society Present:

China’s Long Road to Democracy – Speaker Event cum Documentary Screening

Ex-prisoner of conscience and 89’ Tiananmen student activist talks about democracy, dissent and defending one’s rights. Together with the screening of “TaiShi village”, a documentary shot under dangerous condition about grassroot democracy, the challenges it faces and the potential it possesses. A double whammy not to be missed!

Documentary: TaiShi Village (太石村)

In 2005, the villagers of TaiShi suspected that their land was illegally taken away by the local authorities, and made a bold bid for democracy: they tried to vote off their village chief. On the way they had to overcome police violence, arbitrary arrest and intimidation. Would they succeed or are they doomed to fail? And what does it say about democracy in China?

Guest Speaker: Mr. SHAO Jiang (邵江)

Shao Jiang is an exiled democracy activist involved in organising the Tiananmen protests in 1989, while he was studying at Beida. He was imprisoned in the late 80s and early 90s due to his heavy involvement with the pro-democracy and human rights movement. He is now a writer and academic researcher at the Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster. His knowledge and experience make him one of the best qualified people to talk about China’s long struggle for democracy.

Free admission. All welcome.

For more information please join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49236900683

Or visit our website: http://www.srcf.ucam.org/salon

Part of the China: 60 Years On Project