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「六四記憶·人權博物館」面世：燭光不滅 真相不死 跨越時空 抗爭到底
（2021年8月4日新聞稿）
香港市民支援愛國民主運動聯合會（支聯會）宣布，在1,186位眾籌參與者的支持下，「六四記憶．人權博物館」（ https://8964museum.com ）於2021年8月4日正式對公眾開放。
由於香港政治環境急劇變化，政治打壓愈演愈烈，「六四紀念館」目前已關閉，待日後尋找到適當方式或地點，才考慮重新開放。「六四記憶．人權博物館」自開館日起，脫離支聯會，由策展團隊獨立運作。
1989年6月4日，隨著軍隊進入北京城武力鎮壓，維時近兩個月的天安門民主運動戛然而止，「六四」記憶不斷被官方篡改、刪除。此後30年，身為歷史見證者的香港人，用燃起30年的燭光，對中國民主運動持續支援，實踐守護記憶的承諾，捍衞人權的意志。
2020年6月4日，支聯會啟動眾籌，尋求永久空間保存歷史記憶：在網絡建立「六四記憶．人權博物館」，保存在香港傳承了30年的文物、檔案、影像、口述歷史等等，並連結世界各地學術機構關於「六四」研究的檔案庫。既要搶救記憶，延續承諾，更要重建論述，將1989年中國民運的歷史與香港、世界的抗爭歷史相連。
2020年6月至8月，籌款啟動期間，博物館收到1,186位捐款者慷慨相助，募得款項共計港幣1,675,032元，並全數投入博物館的籌建運作。博物館邀請到親歷八九的中國記者、作家長平先生擔任總策展人，在全球建立策展、檔案及技術團隊。
「六四記憶．人權博物館」開幕時，六個展館同時上線，分別為時間館、空間館、人物館、香港館、媒體館和文藝館。此後，博物館將持續更新，補充現有展館內容，逐步釋出更詳細的史料，翻譯多語言版本，並將不定期因應時事與紀念日主題，開設主題特展。
第一批上線的六個展館簡介如下：
【時間館——抗爭之史，未盡之路】
這是一座流動的紀念碑，碑身交錯刻下四條時間線：一、主線詳細講述1989年4月至6月發生在中國的一場規模浩大的民主抗爭運動；二、副線清晰呈現中共1949年建政以來，對社會生機一系列的鎮壓與控制，以及這種模式在八九之後如何蔓延全球；三、八九運動推進改變國際政治格局的蘇東劇變，因此背景線是當代全球民主自由抗爭史；四、被大歷史裹挾的個體命運的掙扎，從未隨著時光而散盡，姑且稱之為生命線。
【空間館——世界上每個角落的廣場】
這是用地圖形式呈現的「六四」檔案館。以規模龐大的數據、名單和文件構築起沉重的歷史空間。八九民主運動幾乎席捲中國每一個大中城市、全國所有高等院校、將近一半中等專科學校，以及無數學術機構、工礦企業和機關事業單位，直接參與抗爭者橫跨不同年齡、階級、專業崗位，數以千萬計。此館所列僅為獲取並整理出檔案的部分。但是，參觀者已經可以看出，這是人類抗爭史上的驕傲。同樣可以看出，鎮壓者大規模調動軍隊，儼然戰爭行動。
【人物館——一個人的「六四」史】
無論是亡歿者還是倖存者，無論是抗爭者還是鎮壓者，無論是名滿天下還是默默無聞，本館確認與「六四」相關連的，都將收錄。每一個人，既是時代的英雄，亦是時代的一粒沙。那些青春的熱血和勇氣，不應該成為沒有人唸的悼詞。那些追殺學生的軍人，也不會因為他們在執行任務而不是劊子手。八九六四，不僅鑲嵌在中國與世界的歷史中，這一場席捲千萬人的運動，他們就是我們，就是我們身邊每一個人。
【香港館——但有一個夢不會死記著吧】
「六四」抗爭中來自香港的聲援和捐贈，鎮壓之後的「黃雀行動」逃生通道，以及持續30年風雨不改的維園燭光集會，讓香港恍若黑暗天空中一道閃電，給抗爭者帶來力量和希望。同時，香港的參與、救助和持續紀念，本身也可稱為獨立的抗爭運動，經歷了從發起、傳承到打壓的過程，並與香港本地的民主運動，逐漸同呼吸、共命運。本館兩條敘事線：援救「六四」與自我抗爭。援救即是抗爭，抗爭才能援救。
【文藝館——這個歌聲將來是你的輓歌】
對自由、公義與愛的呼喚，是人類心中唱出的最美好的歌聲。30年的維園燭光集會，就是30場大型音樂會。成千上萬參與八九民主運動的個體，都在用生命書寫抗爭的藝術，用時間構建歷史、人性與尊嚴的舞台。這裏所收藏的各類藝術作品，不僅是對八九民主運動的記憶與沉思，也是林林總總的抗爭行動。相對於同類歷史事件，本館收藏並不豐盛，這也是專制政權對創作自由和人類想像力無情壓制的見證。
【媒體館——以過去書寫未來】
70年來，中國媒體最大的驕傲，是在八九民主運動期間數日之內幾近自由的報導。坦克和機槍對這短暫的自由還以報復性的窒息。因此，長達30多年對這場震撼全球的民主運動保持沉默，也成為中國媒體最大的恥辱。幸好還有自由世界的媒體堅持報導，尤其是在逢五遇十的周年，一再穿梭於當下情景與歷史現場，勾勒出人類長期抗爭的整體圖像，丈量着昨日與明日之間的距離。
過去30多年來，維園「六四」燭光集會風雨不改，是香港良心在閃耀，也是香港高度自治和自由的標誌。如今，維園燭海暫難再現，抗爭運動步履艱難。對於支聯會不得不作出一系列抉擇，希望各方面能夠理解與體諒；但不管面對任何困難與挑戰，正如我們已經作出的承諾，支聯會將繼續咬緊牙關、一步一腳印地走下去。我們堅信，燭光縱使散落，卻不會熄滅，獨立運作的「六四記憶．人權博物館」即是一種持久的堅守。屆時，請各位毋忘「六四」的朋友，到博物館點亮燭光，以燭光照亮同路，以記憶守護未來。
「六四記憶．人權博物館」網站：https://8964museum.com
「六四記憶．人權博物館」臉書：https://bit.ly/3rF6bfg
「六四記憶．人權博物館」電郵： 64.museum.online@protonmail.com
Candlelight, truth and struggle remain across time and space: Announcing the Opening of June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum
(4 August 2021 press release)
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (the Alliance) announces that with the support of 1,186 crowdfunders, the June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum (https://8964museum.com) will officially open to the public on 4 August 2021.
Due to the drastic change in the political environment in Hong Kong and the intensifying political pressure, the June 4 Museum is currently closed and may consider reopening in the future if an appropriate form or venue is found. The June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum will be separate from the Alliance upon its opening and will be operated independently by a curatorial team.
On 4 June 1989, when the army entered Beijing, the two-month-long Tiananmen democracy movement was ended by armed suppression. June 4 memories have been constantly tampered with and deleted by the government. In the past 30 years, Hong Kong people, acting as historical witnesses, have continuously supported China's democratic movement with 30 years of candlelight, fulfilling the promise to preserve the memories and the will to defend human rights.
On 4 June 2020, the Alliance launched crowdfunding for preserving history in a permanent space. The online June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum keeps artifacts, files, videos, oral history and other items that have been collected in Hong Kong over the past 30 years. It also links to June 4 research archives of academic institutions around the world. This is not only to rescue memories and keep the promise but also to reconstruct the narratives and connect the history of China’s 1989 democracy movement with the history of struggle in Hong Kong and around the world.
From June to August 2020, during the fundraising period, the museum received generous support of HK$1,675,032 from 1,186 donors, and the donations were fully invested in the preparation of the museum. The museum invited Mr. Chang Ping, a Chinese journalist who personally experienced the 1989 movement, to serve as the Chief Curator and build the curatorial, archival and technical teams around the world.
On the opening of the June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum’, six permanent exhibitions will be online, including the Temporal Section, Spatial Section, People Profile Section, Hong Kong Section, Literature and Art Section, and Media Section. The museum will continue to update the collections, supplement the content of the existing sections, gradually release more detailed historical materials, provide multilingual versions, and launch special exhibitions on a non-regular basis according to currrent affairs and anniversary themes.
Introductions of the initial six permanent exhibitions follow:
Temporal Section: the history of struggle and the unfinished road
This is a mobile monument with four intersecting timelines: 1) The main line describes in details the mass democracy movement in China from April to June 1989; 2) A second line clearly presents the series of suppressions and controls on the society since the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949 and how this model spread throughout the world after 1989; 3) A third background line shows how the 1989 movement influenced a change in the international political landscape in the USSR and Eastern Europe, marking the history of the struggle for democracy and freedom in those places; 4) A fourth line, called the lifeline, shows the struggles of individuals within the context of history.
Spatial Section: A square in each corner of the world
This is the June 4 archives presented in the form of maps, a solemn historical space constructed with large-scale data, lists and files. The 1989 democracy movement reached almost every large and medium-sized city in China, involving all universities, nearly half of the secondary schools, and countless academic institutions, industrial and mining enterprises and public institutions.
Millions of protesters, spanning diverse ages, classes, and professions, directly participated. Although this library list only a portion that can be acquired and documented, it is sufficient to see that the movement was significant in the history of the struggle for freedom. The data also show the massive mobilization of the army by the suppressor, as if carrying out an act of war.
People Profile Section: Every person’s history of June 4
Any person that the museum confirmed to be related to June 4 will be included, no matter whether dead, survivor, defender or suppressor, both famous and unknown. Everyone can be both the hero of the times and the dust of the times. The youthful passion and courage should not amount to no more than an unspoken eulogy. The soldiers who chased and killed students were the executioners even if they were following orders. 4 June 1989 was not only a significant event in Chinese and world history, as a movement of millions of participants, these people are us and every person around us.
Hong Kong Section: A dream that will not die
The support and donations from Hong Kong during the June 4 struggle, the post-suppression ‘Operation Yellowbird’ escape route, and the candlelight vigils in Victoria Park for 30 years regardless of rain or storm all have brought protesters strength and hope. Hong Kong's role can be considered both part of the June 4 democracy movement and its own independent struggle. Hong Kong experienced the June 4 democracy movement from the start, inherited the goals, and now suffers a similar suppression. The two narrative lines of this section include the history of June 4 rescue operations and the local Hong Kong struggle.
Literature and Art Section: This song will be your elegy in the future
The demand for freedom, righteousness and love is the most beautiful voice of the human heart. Thirty years of candlelight vigils in Victoria Park were like 30 large concerts. Thousands of individuals who participated in the 1989 democracy movement drew the art of struggle with their lives, and constructed history, human nature and dignity over time. The various artworks of different types collected here are not only the memory and thoughts of the 1989 democracy movement but also represent various struggles themselves. Compared to similar historical events, our collection is not extensive, but it can also serve as a witness to the ruthless suppression of creative freedom and human imagination by the authoritarian regime.
Media Section: Writing the future through the past
Over the past 70 years, the biggest pride of Chinese media is the nearly free media reporting during the period of the 1989 democracy movement. Tanks and machine guns eventually put an end to this brief period. As the Chinese media has been silent about this event that shocked the world for more than 30 years, this has become the greatest shame of the Chinese media. Fortunately, the media of the free world, especially on the anniversary every five years, repeatedly relives the historical scenes, outlines the overall image of the long-term resistance, and illustrates the distance between the past and future.
Over the past 30 years, the June 4 candlelight vigils at Victoria Park regardless of rain or storm have been a sign of Hong Kong's conscience and high degree of autonomy and freedom. Today, the sea of candlelight in Victoria Park can hardly reappear, and the resistance movement is facing hardship. The Alliance has had to make difficult decisions and asks for the understanding of all parties. Yet even in the face of such difficulties and challenges, as we have made our commitment, the Alliance will continue to persevere step by step. We firmly believe that the candlelight will not be extinguished even if scattered. The independent operation of June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum will be a lasting mark of persistence. Those who refuse to forget June 4 can light the candles at the museum to brigten our path and guard our memories for the future.
June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum website: https://8964museum.com
June 4 Memory & Human Rights Museum Facebook: https://bit.ly/3rf6bfg
June 4th Memory & Human Rights Museum Email: 64.Museum.online@protonmail.com
