(From China Digital News)

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 death：You came too early. When we were in a crisis, 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” (公来何晚，当围城时，大节未亏，百世流芳；公去真迟，神州沉沦，壮志难酬，此恨绵绵 ).

The Wikipedia (English) has a page for Zhao Ziyang at here. The story is also on the front page of Chinese Wikipedia.