Tiananmen protest leader launches online 'democracy school'

Twenty-two years after the historic 1989 pro-democracy protests at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, an exiled student leader of the movement launched an online school on "democracy." Wang Dan, who is now based in Taipei, said he hoped to educate young Chinese on democracy so they can help institute political democratization in China. "While I know Chinese authorities would make every effort to block access to the online school on the mainland, I believe the facility would be able to reach out to tens of thousands of Chinese studying abroad," Wang said, according to a report on Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA). He said his New School for Democracy will invite leading political scientists to give lectures and engage in what he described as "preparatory work for China's political democratization." The CNA report said the online school was registered in Hong Kong, with Wang listed as its chairman. It was inaugurated Saturday to coincide with China's Oct. 1 National Day. The school will begin online teaching on democratic ideas and principles this coming week, with one class each day from Monday through Saturday. The first semester will last 15 weeks. Hopefuls can register membership at the website www.ns4d.org. Social media Wang cited the importance of social media and the Internet in democratization, noting the role they played in recent political changes in the Arab world. He said he believes his online school will help shatter "one-party rule" in China in the future. Also, he said he has received messages from many overseas Chinese students expressing their opinions on the project. "Their responses are encouraging signs that many young people on the mainland aspire to see democratic reform in China," he said. — LBG, GMA News