tiananmen square: one man stops tank?

Question

the tanks are coming. a man is standing in their way. the tanks try to bypass, the man moves, the tanks cannot bypass. the man forces the tanks to stop competely.

but: how does this story end? was the man killed? was he removed by armed forces? did the tanks just sit and wait? who is that man?

see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Tiananmen/0,,193066,00.html
http://www.cnn.com/resources/video.almanac/1989/index2.html

Answer 1

There is no solid, convincing evidence about "Tank Man", other than for the compelling pictures of his lone stand against the column of tanks. There are conflicting claims about his identity, and about his subsequent fate.

Here are some of them: -

[1] The Sunday Express (a British tabloid) named him as Wang Weilin, a 19-year-old student. No proof of that ID was ever offered.

[2] Bruce Herschensohn, who worked for US President Nixon — claimed that Tank Man was executed 14 days after the incident. Again, no proof offered.

[3] Jan Wong (an author) claimed that Tank Man escaped from Beijing and went into hiding somewhere in mainland China. No evidence offered.

[4] The Hong Kong Apple Daily, on the other hand, agrees that Tank Man escaped, but says that he reached freedom in Taiwan.

[5] Charlie Cole, a magazine photographer covering the Tiananmen protests, says that Tank Man was arrested immediately by the Public Security Bureau (secret police). If so, he would likely have died (probably under torture).

[6] Jiang Zemin (General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party) was asked by Barbara Walters what happened to Tank Man. He said "I think he was never killed."
But then, he would say that, wouldn't he?

So, I'm sorry, but it's likely that we'll never know the truth. If China ever gets rid of Communism and becomes and truly free country, I just hope that there will be a memorial to "Tank Man, the Unknown Hero" erected on the Great Avenue of Chang'an at the spot where he made his lonely stand for liberty.

Answer 2

Man Stops Tank

Answer 3

Several friends ran out and pulled him out of the way. They disappeared into the crowd. Several rumors of what happened after, but no one knows for sure. No one knows exactly who he is either. But he is one of my heroes.

Answer 4

manxminn gives agood answer.

I have that picture up on the wall above my desk.

Whenever I want a definition of courage, all I have to do is look.

Answer 5

Rumors are that he was executed 14 days later. if he isnt dead you can be quite sure hes not in China.