China Televises Its Version of Events Leading to Crackdown

China on Monday televised the first part of an official version of events leading up to last month’s military crackdown, attempting to prove that the pro-democracy movement was manipulated by “a small handful of behind-the-scenes plotters.”

The government-produced program, “Trial By Blood and Fire,” showed previously unreleased footage of the seven weeks of protests. Images of marchers stretching for miles along Beijing’s wide avenues were accompanied by a narrative charging that the students were used by those with “ulterior motives.”

Blame was laid squarely at the feet of ousted Communist Party chief Zhao Ziyang, who was removed from his post last month and accused of “supporting the counterrevolutionary rebellion.” He has not been seen in public since and is believed to be under house arrest.

The government crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in central Beijing on June 3-4 left hundreds, perhaps thousands, of civilians dead.

The government has said 300 people died, half of them soldiers, but that no demonstrators were shot in Tian An Men Square, the focus of the protest. Western diplomats and witnesses say thousands were killed in and around the square.