1) From: Gang Tian 11/28/95Having read today's issue (28 Nov.,1995), I am so glad to hear two kinds of different opinions about Wei's arrest. Thanks for your objective report on this. For a long time ( I have only been abroad for 3 years), I was hardly to read such opinions which are considering Chinese affairs by a strategy way to pro-China policy. I do think a lot of overseas Chineses share those opinions. But why they could not be seen on CND news?!
If we were still in China and did not see what the Western countries did in an against-Communist stategy during these years, we might think the domestic propaganda is not true. We might think the west countries, especially US, are care about Chinese people's human rights. However, we have seen that that is not the case.
We, oversees Chinese, shouldn't be tools for them to use to against our country for the sake of their own interests. Why we should send our opinions to President Clinton about our own business?!
If Mr. Wei's behavier is not supported by some other forgein forces, I don't think his case is so severe. I think for well educated people, their advantages for considering things are they view things from higher standing and in a whole. Espeicially for some political affairs, strategy views are necessary.
Hope to see more positive reports about opinions for China's policies (not only against), such as nuclear tests, population control, situation between Taiwan strait, human rights an so on, because we have read so many negative news from the newspapers and televisions about our country here.
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2) From: system admin 11/29/95Dear CND Editors:
I'd like to respond to the statement that arresting Wei JingSheng is in the interest of majority of Chinese People. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!
In a society which does not respect individual's reasonable rights, NOBODY's interest is safely protected. Remember the days even China's president (Liu Shao Qi) could be dragged out of his house and beaten by a mob, not to mention that MAJORITY of people feared daily that one day they might be informed by their unfriendly (or even friendly) acquaintance as "counter-revolutionists"? Where are majority's rights in such a society?
I don't want argue whether what Mr. Wei has been doing is right or wrong, but the charges against him were rediculous 16 years ago and are absurd now, and everyone knows that he won't get a fair trial. Under such tyranny, nobody is safe, not even the ones who are "loyal" to the tyrants, not even the tyrants themselves.
Some people even say because China has a huge population therefore we can not afford democrocy. What about Japan? Others say Chinese people are not well- educated, I think they under-estimated the intelligence of people who do not hold a diploma. Two hundred years ago, most people in America didn't have college degree either, but they made democracy work.
Besides, Mr. Wei's case is not even about the choice of political system, it is about law&order. The Government by detaining Mr. Wei more than a year without formal charge violated the very criminal law they made for and by themselves. If the goverment don't respect the law, who will? The only thing will happen then is chaos, especially in a crowded, poorly-educated country.
I believe most Chinese people is intelligent enough to realize that.
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3) From: ****@****.rug.ac.be (A reader from Europe) 11/29/95
I would like to reminder the overseas Chinese to watch what is going on in East-Europe, what western countries have been doing there and what they can do. I have many friends who come from East-European countries and we feel that Chinese government is much more better than their governments.
In the end, I hope that our oversea students and scholars will make positive contributions to the development of China. However, one must understand that the "criticism" is also important for each government, including chinese government. Our oversea students and scholars should be an important feedback element in the policy making process for the chinese government.
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4) From: "J. Zhao" 12/06/95Recently a interesting discussion occurs on CND because of Harry Wu and Wei Jingsheng. I' d like to input my view about this discussion:
1) Don't make any kind of personal attack on any person in any way. I really don't think personal attack should appear in our discussion. Don't follow the way that Ren Min Ri Pao (People's Daily) treats its "enemy" (The recent case was how this paper treats President Lee Teng-hui from Taiwan).
2) Don't use the words like "sick person", "dirty", "ridiculous" and so on. Such kind of language appears on some letters, should avoid in our discussion. These words again let me recall the Ren Min Ri Pao and its language.
3) Democracy in China--I got a lot re-education from the discussion, The thing I read from somebody's comments is just like what I read from Ren Min Ri Pao. Yes, we will face more challenges for the democracy, but it should be a goal for the China's future. I won't repeat the successful story in West. Just take a look our neighbors--Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, you won't believe that the democracy won't specifically apply to our country in the future.
4) A "Strong" China--If China is "strong" under the one party-the communist party dictatorship, that will be a big unstable factor in the world and the pain for Chinese people. We will pay higher price to get it fixed. Look the history of Chinese communist party, how they destroy our culture and how they treat their people, I believe that you will absolutely get the same conclusion.
5) Green Card--I don't understand why green card were mentioned so often in somebody's letters. Maybe some "emotional" reasons were involved when they inputed their comments. I feel that anybody who come to USA has a dream to get the green card. The matter is if you have chance. People got their green cards due to whatever reasons is their personal choices, why does it bother you? why do you put such personal factor into the discussion? What will happen after you get the green card? Why so many students concern the Simpson's bill? Anyway, green card should not be a issue for this discussion.
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5) From: pr0306215@vaxa.ccri.cc.ri.us 11/29/95
Dear Editor:
I used to be a student, now a faculty member at an American college. Please allow me to add my voice to the current discussion related to Wei' arrest and recent charge. First, I have a deep ambivalence about what is going on in China. On the one hand, I feel greatly embarrassed by the lack of tolerance toward dissent by the government. Sometimes, I am wondering why the self-claimed great party supported by a -million-man army so afraid of words, some ideas??? On the other hand, democracy is not without limits and certainly not a cure-all. I think we are all too well-educated, I don't have to cite examples to support this statement. Second, I am a history major. If we look at western political evolution, we will realize that it took England about 230 years, from 1689 to 1918, to build the full democracy as we know it today in that country. Likewise, it took the Americans about 145 years, from 1776 to 1920 to complete its democratic transformation. Globally, almost universally, democracy came at the end of the
industrialization process, not before it. look at Japan after Meiji, Taiwan in the eighties and South Korea in the eighties.... Is China ready for democracy now??? I am not sure. Third, democratic transformation can only come at a result of internal yearning, not outside pressure. Does the majority in China today want democracy? What kind of democratic process do they want? Are we all mature and civilized enough to understand what it means to participate in a democracy? Based on the performance of some "luminaries" in this country, I am very concerned about the prospect of democracy in CHina. As a first step, I am in favor of greater liberalization of the press to increase the transparency of the government so that its working is under some kind of popular scrutiny. Beyond this step, I think China needs time!!! Had to run. Thanks Lu, Qiang
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6) From: Yankun Chi 11/28/95Some people cited the problem of the US, as if other's mistake is an excuse of ours. Is this a good attitude torwards our own problems? Those claimed the arest of Wei is in the interest of the "people", as if they knew what iterms of law WEI has broken. But they didn't tell us anything on that. This jsut shows they know nothing at all at this moment. Knowing nothing but justify the punishment. This is a way of Chinese characteristics.
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7) From: Yunfu Sun 11/28/95Hi, everyone, I read through the CND Special Report on the Charge Against WEI Jingsheng (II) on Tuesday, November 28, 1995 and have some thoughts about it:
(1) Most of the reactions are emotional, except a few. These people speak on the prejudiced viewpoint of America and judge the Chinese system with their westernized mind in American ways. I agree wholeheartedly with the massage from *****@****.soton.ac.uk that when individual's right is against group's right, group right should have higher priority. American messed up the priority. That's why their legal system is in deep trouble. Don't believe it? Did you watch OJ trial? the trial of the California brothers who murdered their parents? How about the numerous reports of convicted criminals free on the streets?
(2) I admired Mr. Wei Jingsheng for his belief and fight on "fifth modernization". But I don't believe he should let American get involved after his release. Just like many other people, I strongly believe that America is doing its best to undermine Chinese government. Any Chinese with conscience should not permit himself to be used one way or another. American's hostility against China is obvious in the issues of human right, Tibet (Dalai Lama), Taiwan (Lee Teng-hui), WTO, weapon sale, trade, etc.
(3) There should be no denial that human right abuse is a serious problem in China. But there should be no denial that the situation has improved significantly in the last two decades. Anyone really cares about China should go back China to do whatever s/he thinks it is right for China. Otherwise, please don't ask foreign powers, especially America, to paddle in the affairs of your own country.
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8) From: HOU@SSCL.UWO.CA 11/28/95
While I feel Chinese government really needs to justify its newest action against Mr. Wei, the letter from (Zhou@yorkcol.edu) made me sick. He reminds me the so called "dog who lost its host home" when he said he immediately sent a email to Clinton upon hearing the arrest of Wei. When thisperson begs his/her presumed new master to take action against his/her old master (who actually raised him), do he/she really believes the US goverment is free of guilt in so-called "human rights". Think about the poor position of blacks in the States, the native indians, and so many invasions to those small countries. It is a common sense that all the US government did or does is purely for its own national benifit, nothing more and nothing less.
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9) From: hong@fmi.ch 11/28/95
...
Some people said "Wei's case is purely Chinese internal affairs, it is our business..." ----Surely this is not the case. We are talking about human rights. Note the word human. Do distinguish "should we Chinese eat" from "should we Chinese eat rice or bread".
...
Other said "he charge against Wei is to protect human rights of the majority, no democracy in big population country..."
----I am not so sure the human rights of the majority are protected by the charge against Wei. May be we don't deserve democracy but I would rather say it is a shame. In the 20th century, many (whites, blacks, yellows) in the world are enjoying democracy and freedom. We, very pride people in the world, claim we don't need it and are even happy we don't have it. ...
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10) From: Zheng Yaping 11/28/95... He had my sympathy when he serve 15 years in prison because he made himself a scapegoat of turmoils leftover by "Gang of Four". But now he become a tool for foreign country to criticize Chinese. He should realise now he is a tool being used by both sides. He should draw himself from this role, and have a quite life if he really think of the interest of majority Chinese people. He is a scapegoat again this time.
I feel angry about the idea to ask President Clinton to interfere Chinese affairs.
Was it justifiable 50 years ago to ask Japanese imperial army to come to China because the Chinese government was so bad to treat its people?
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11) From: ******@unc.edu 11/28/95
1.Wei's arrest, or the whole human right issue, is not in the interest to the majority in China. I cannot agree with this. Arbitary arrest or sentence is not something that only happens to Wei or those who dare to protest the government, it can happen to everybody under current Chinese system. One of my childhood friend was sentenced to death last year just because he set fire on a house, without anybody getting hurt. This sort of luck can fall on the head of anybody, just not on those who control the system. Of course, only the minority actually get the bad luck. But the majority is subject to it. Think about this, only the minority get serious health probems, but the majority buy health insurance.
2. The democratic west has lots of problems, the western politics are full of dirty games, why China needs democracy? I think I know the dark sides of the western democracy. But none of those problems can match the 'great leaps', the 'anti-rightists' movement, not to mention the 'cultural revolution'. Yes, the whites killed the Indians, does it justifiy killing students in Tian'an Men square?
I don't think feeding 1.2 billion people should be attributed to the government. I think the 1.2 billion people deserve better life. They have not got it just because the government have been doing all the great things like great leap or cultural revolution. Oh, yes, they have stopped it for about 20 years. But should we be grateful to them for letting us feed ourselves? My parents have been working like horse in their whole life, but their pesions are only enough for a fraction of the living costs. Remember, the government is paid by the people to do things right. Why should we thank them for what we get from our hard work? Don't we think a big part of that work has gone into the pockets of the officials and their sons' or daughters'.
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12) From: pchen@worms.cmsbio.nwu.edu (Pengxin Chen) 11/28/95
Tell me the best interest of "Chinese People". The best interest of Chinese people is not to have government officials abuse their power and waste people's money, while a lot of people couldn't eat enough and go to a decent school. The best interest of Chinese people" is not to have their army fire on their parents, friends and brothers. ......
The worst of all, in China today, the real Chinese people do not have a say. The only improvement we can have is for the government to decorate itself. Wei is trying to speak up and he disappeared for more than a year without a trace!!!! And someone tells me that it is in the best interest of "Chinese people"? What people is he talking about?
Remember this. Today is Wei, Tomorrow could be anybody! The worst about all this? Nobody could stand up and speak up! Wei tried to do that, he disappeared for more than a year and today he was arrested "officially".
This is not an issue of western individualism. This is an issue of basic human right!
My friend, wake up. When your kid in school is being taught to lie, it is not a matter of western individualism. It is a matter of basic human right!
I hope everybody could stand up and help him.
To close, I would like to quote a closing remark from a recent immigration article:
In Germany, they came first for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist; then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew; then they came for the Trade-Unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Trade-Unionist; then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I am a Protestant; then they came for me, and by that time no-one was left to speak up. --- Martin Niemoller ---
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13) From: Anne Thomas & Daniel Rubenstein
11/28/95As I am not Chinese, many CND readers may feel my opinion about Wei Jingsheng's predicament is irrelevant.However, since your Chinese readers cannot agree amongst themselves regarding this issue, perhaps they will view my opinion as no less valid than those of Chinese with whom they happen to disagree.
I think taking a poll among CND readers to determine the level of overseas Chinese support for the CCP and Chinese government is a great idea. But even if younger Chinese disportionately support China's government, how might this generational divide relate to Wei Jingsheng?
To make a long argument very short, I believe, based on living in China and studying her politics, that support for and optimism concerning China's government is intimately bound up with the changes in institutions, policies, and laws that the government seems intent on advancing. The overall thrust of these changes is towards greater openness, rule-based decision-making processes, procedural rationality, the rule of (or by) law, etc. Younger Chinese untouched by the CR and seeing the prospect of tremendous economic opportunity in their own lifetimes have good reason for believing in the government. But these positive changes are rooted precisely in various aspects of this emerging "procedural rationality," for lack of a better term. That is, young Chinese often praise the government precisely because it has changed; it is no longer "like before."
Regarding Wei Jingsheng, the question becomes, if the government can violate proper procedures (at the most basic level, freedom of speech is guaranteed in China's constitution) and act secretly and therefore without accountability in his arrest, detention, and charging, what is to stop it from violating any procedures or rules it itself has devised in the economic, or any other, sphere? The answer is, "nothing." I believe anyone, regardless of culture, can sense the vulnerability that subjects citizens to. It is China's government being "like before."
Some may be willing to live with that vulnerability, but they should ask themselves, what happens when it is they who are attacked? Perhaps intergeneratinal unity may be fostered if it is emphasized that criticism of the government's handling of Wei Jingsheng is not intended as "anti-government," but "pro-a particular principle concerning government," a principle both generations seem to embrace.
I would add that equating "human rights" with crime and Western moral decay, as some have done, appears to Western eyes as rather ludicrous. Does China not have crime? Black market gunrunning? Drugs? Female slavery? Moral decay? Anyway, democracy doesn't mean China need abandon harsh penalties for non-political crimes (i.e., democracy and "soft on crime" are quite separable). Furthermore, just as one needn't assert the U.S. is better in order to criticize China, one shouldn't have to insult the U.S. (a happy home to more immigrants than China can shake a stick at) in order to defend China.
Finally, as ever, who will watch the watchmen?
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14) From: xidong@axuw01.cern.ch 11/28/95
I read the last edition regarding the arrest of Wei Jinsheng. I feel some of the messages are very misleading. I like to put some of my comments here.
One says "To arrest Wei is to protect the human rights of the majority". First, I have to ask without the rights of individuals, where come the rights of the majority? We have long heard about the government is saying we are killing this guy for the interests of all of you, and we are killing that guy for the same reason. Would you still believe them? Second, are we doing things based on right or wrong, or based on useful or useless? If somebody convinces me Wei Jinshen is really a criminal and he should pe purnished. I may agree with him. If somebody say Wei is wronged, but It saves the interests of all of us, So the government is doing the right thing. Than this kind of thinking is wrong. Are we people of principles? Are there basic principles we should never give up? For the long run instead of temporary expediencies, if we Chinese want to be a nation that all of us proud of, we have to learn never to trade in our basic principles for any profits. Maybe it is too demanding for every individual of us, bu
t at least we should learn it as a people of whole.
Another says "To arrest Wei is internal affair", wrong!! If your neighbour is killing his own family members, are you scared? Will you lock your doors to protect youself? Will you accuse those who rush to stop the atrocity of intefering other's internal affairs? History proves all those totalitarian regimes, when they are weak, they only torture their own people, when they are getting stronger, they finally will trespass upon other nation's interests. World war two Nazi Germany, cold war Soviet Union and even most recently with much smaller scale Iraq before and after Gulf war. Everybody has the right to stop or to try to stop the human right abuses everywhere around the world, although some are ill-intentioned while doing this. But human rights is not an internal affair. If somebody doesn't know how to respect its' own people, how do you expect them to respect other people?
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15) From: Gao Song 11/29/95I'm so worried about some letter's in Nov 28, 95 CND-global. Especially the letter from Mr. Shi Yigong, Johns Hopkins University.
You must agree that CND is not People's Daily, so, it has no obligation to be the "throat and tongue" of the party, right? And if CND doesn't provide "prompt and widespread " coverage when human rights abuses occur in China and all those western country follow the instruction that they should keep quiet about our country's "internal affair", how can we ever know anything about those abuses?
We are lucky and should be very grateful for all job down by CND. I don't think to have common sense of right and wrong is to be "polarized".It is unfair to say that CND ignores social progress in China. I was amazed when I read the article about the current status of internet in China in a recent issue of Hua Xia Wen Zhai.
You gave your speculation that so-called silent majority Chinese do support the government. Is it so? Then why the government don't allow the majority to have the right of free speech? I guess even the government doesn't believe this. It's just too good to be true :). Also, I'm curious about the line your draw between people who entered college before and after 85. And in what sense that for those who went to college after 85, "the vast majority favor the government"? I would be very interested if you can share the result of the poll, as mentioned in your letter, carried by yourself over the years. Isn't it difficult to give a conclusion about __SILENT__ majority?
As you mentioned, "Wei Jingsheng is NOT everything we care about!", we care about every aspect of our country. But, we MUST NOT ignore any single life, any single soul, any single voice in China. If we can ignore Mr. Wei Jingsheng, why not forget about those killed in "6.4"?
Every single life IS the last word on China. Every aspect of the right of a single human being in China IS the last word of China. As long as we don't know how to respect a single life, we Chinese, don't deserve a better life.
We care about our country, we want it to be strong and prosperous. We want our fellow Chinese have a better life, as diligent as we are, as intelligent as we are, we deserve it. I see no conflict between patriotism and the criticizing of the ugly.
Who should take the responsibility of letting western country taking Mr. Wei JingSheng as a card to play against China? You? Me? Mr. Wei JingSheng? CND? I know the answer, you know the answer.
If we don't care, we will? If we don't respect the life a fellow Chinese, who will? If plain people like you and me don't speak up, you think the government will feel guilty some day and return the freedom to Mr. Wei?
As you mentioned, "There are plenty of other people who simply don't like the idea of special focus on political dissident." OK, then, just take him as a fellow Chinese. What will you do if a plain Chinese citizen's rights has been abused? Ignore it? You must say no, I guess. Then, why should we ignore MR. Wei Jingsheng's rights? Because he is a political dissident?
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16) From: ***@*****.u-tokyo.ac.jp 12/01/95
First of all, What we should think about is not only the fact that Mr. Wei was arrested but also what does it mean.
Everyone knows that Mr. Wei was not free 20 months ago. Why the Chinese government told the world Mr. Wei's issue at this time?! I frankly think it shows that political power struggle inside Chinese government is very heavy and the hard line group(maybe the People Congress leader Qiao Shi and some Army leaders) almost defeat the soft line group(maybe president Jiang Zeming and his so called Shanghai group).
To explain it clear, we'd better make a review of what happened recently. Before and during the APEC in Osaka, President Jiang expressed that Sino-US relationship was getting normalized and he would like to visit Taiwan if he was invited by Mr. Li Denghui. It obviously represented the soft line group's idea or their wishes. But after he went back home, the People Congress leader Qiao Shi made a very strong attitude on Taiwan issues which was absolutely different from Mr. Jiang's opinion. Meanwhile the PLA did a big army exercise in Nanjing which is to be considered as a preview of the to 'liberate' Taiwan. Chinese army leader Zhang Wannan and Chi Haotian both new vice chairmen of the army also said will prepare united the nation with forces. Some western sources also reported old men in the Chinese army were very angry with American president for issuing visa to Taiwan leader Mr. Li Denghui and with Mr. Jiang Zeming for his soft response.
All of these mean that now the Hard line group may be will replace the soft line group. If so, it is not only terrible for the economic reform but also dangerous to start a civil war.
Of course Mr. Wei's issue is important, but we should study its background. The most important thing is to do something to reduce the possibility of the civil war and continue economic reform.
I sincerely hope Mr. Wei's supporters to ask US and western government to correct their policy to China to avoid of a civil war and to continue the economic reform. Then you can still have time to do something for Mr. Wei and I think the best way is to go back to China and stay with him but not just say "we support Mr. Wei". Please don't forget a sentence in Chinese " Zhan4 zhe4 shuo1 hua4 bu4 yao1 teng2"
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17) From: "Yukong Zhao" 12/02/95Dear Editor:
I am so surprised that CND paid too much enthusiasm to the Case of Wei Jinsheng. I personally believe that as a news organization CND should keeps itself out of the dirty politics.
As a Chinese, I'd like to see China making every progress both economically, and politically. I'd respect some people who have neutral, and objective views of China. When Wei Jingsheng was put into jail fifteen years ago, China was in a terrible situation, just recovering from Mao's terrible control. 15 years later, China achieved so much both economically and politically.
But I could not understand why Mr. Wei's comments regarding China were always negative???
In the past 150 years since the Opium War, the recent 16 years is China's only longest peaceful period for economic development. I prefer a politically slow moving China to a "democratic" poor Russia.
This is the reason I do not like Mr. Wei's current ideas although I pay personal sympathy to his early life experience in 1980s'.
