The first time the world saw a photo Qi Zhiyong, the tragic image of that young handsome student with an amputated leg served as evidence that the government’s claim “we didn’t fire a shot” was a lie.

That was in 1989, shortly after the Chinese Communist Party ordered tanks and military to crush the rising student democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. On Monday, Qi Zhiyong persevered in his effort to take another significant photograph that would send a message to the world, this time to show his respect for the deceased Chinese leader that tried to stop the tanks that crushed his leg, and many others’.

Again, it wasn’t easy.

During the last 16 years Qi's freedom has been severely restricted. Every time a “sensitive” date drew near, a police officer would come to Qi's home to “look after” him.

The authorities stopped Qi from attending the public hearing of fellow democracy activist Ye Guozhu, who was tried for his efforts for democracy in China. He was even stopped from visiting a friend’s house on Christmas to sing carols.

Qi Zhiyong was extremely saddened when he heard about the passing of Mr. Zhao Ziyang on January 17, 2005. Zhao had been purged from the nation’s top position, Chinese Communist Party General Secretary, because he opposed the CCP’s use of violence against the students and was open to democratic reforms.

When interviewed by reporters after Zhao’s death, Qi was choked with tears. “I will certainly mourn the loss of Mr. Zhao in my own way,” he said. Later that day, police put him under house arrest. Wherever he went, he was followed. On the evening of January 19 he was detained in the guesthouse of the Beijing Power Supply Bureau Materials Section.

Four days later, Qi booked an appointment with a photo studio. “My grandfather has passed away, I want to take a memorial photo,” he told the clerk.

At roughly 10 p.m. Qi told the policemen guarding him that he wanted to go out and buy some pens for his children. The policemen accepted and drove him to a store. There Qi bought a marker and some poster boards, stuffed them inside his coat and returned to the car.

That night, with tears in his eyes, Qi prepared the posters that memorialized Zhao Ziyang. Shortly after 8 a.m. on January 24, while the policemen were away eating breakfast, he rolled up his posters and hid them in his coat. He walked for 20 minutes to the photo studio, and had his picture taken.

He later told reporters, “I have fulfilled my wish. Zhao Ziyang’s soul sees me from heaven. I thank God I was able to carry this out.”