Tiananmen Mothers maintain their rage

Analysts said a reassessment of the protests was next to impossible in the near future because leaders who were either involved in or benefited from the crackdown are still alive.

Journalist Dai Qing (戴晴), one of China's most celebrated dissident writers and a 1989 protester, says moderate activism is the most effective path to reform.

"Back in those days, Wang Dan (王丹) would never choose to do small things. But I don't think that just because it's small, it's not worth doing," she said.