Taiwanese singer and activist Panai has campaigned for years for the rights of Taiwan's indigenous people.TAIPEI - Taiwanese singer and activist Panai called on June 29 at one of the most prestigious entertainment events in the Chinese-speaking world for people not to forget China's bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters at Tiananmen Square.
Taking the stage after winning for best Taiwanese language album at the ceremony in Taipei, Panai said this was the 35th anniversary of the awards.Chinese tanks rolled into the square before dawn on June 4, 1989 to end weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers. Public discussion of what happened is taboo in China, though it is freely talked about in Taiwan.
"The reason why I mentioned that event on stage is because Taiwan's democracy is a process that all of us need to cherish; our freedom and freedom of speech is what we need to protect." Another Chinese singer, Jude Chiu, did arrive in Taiwan but returned to the country before the awards for health reasons, Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported.