Zhao Ziyang, under house arrest in China since 1989, has now passed away.
His daughter says: “He is free at last.”
First received this news from Rebecca MacKinnon’s RConversation. Time published an obituary entitled “The Prisoner of Conscience: Zhao Ziyang, 1919-2005.” A very brief report from Xinhua is here. The New York Times article is “Zhao Dies, Posing a Challenge for China’s Nervous Leadership.” The Financial Times’ story concludes “Mr Zhao’s life has ended, but his political story is not over yet.”
Chinese journalist An Ti wrote on his blog (please excuse my very rough translation. The Chinese is very eloquent.): “Profoundly mourning Zhao Ziyang’s deathÔºöYou did not come late. When we were under siege, you didn’t betray your principles. For generations, people will remember your good name. You went away so late, the nation is sinking in the darkness. You didn’t accomplish your vision, and will forever be resentful” (ÂÖ¨Êù•‰ΩïÊôöÔºåÂΩìÂõ¥ÂüéÊó∂Ôºå§ßËäÇÊú™‰∫èÔºåÁôæ‰∏ñʵÅËä≥ÔºõÂÖ¨ÂéªÁúüËøüÔºåÁ•ûÂ∑ûÊ≤âÊ≤¶Ôºå£ÆÂøóÈöæÈÖ¨ÔºåÊ≠§ÊÅ®ÁªµÁªµ ).
The Wikipedia (English) has a page for Zhao Ziyang at here. The story is also on the front page of Chinese Wikipedia.
