5/5 - 12/5 : Demanding Dialogue

Journalists from "People's Daily" went onto the streets to demand press freedom

On 5th May, students from 30 different universities in Bejing elected their respresentatives, who were to conduct dialogue with the government. Yet their demand for dialogue was repeatedly turned down.

On 9th May, a letter jointly signed by over 1000 journalists and editors was submitted to the secretariat of the All-China Journalists Association, demanding a dialogue on press reform.

Students decided to hold demonstrations during Soviet leader Gorbachev's visit to China. On 12th May, State Council spokesman Yuan Mu urged students to refrain from demonstrating during the Sino-Soviet summit, stressing the importance to "safeguard China's international image".