ACTIVIST CALLS FOR CHINA REFORM

The Herald Tribune, Wednesday, August 13, 1997

As the police increased their surveillance of dissidents, a veteran activist issued a daring call Tuesday for political reform, urging China's president to lead the country toward, full-fledged democracy. Qin Yongmin, who has served several terms in Chinese prisons for political activism, urged a series of reforms culminating in direct elections for China's top government posts. The appeal, made in a letter to President Jiang Zemin that was faxed to reporters, came ahead of a major Communist Party congress in the autumn that is expected to map out government policy for the millennium. Mr. Jiang has made it clear that he wants the congress to back new economic reforms, but major political reforms are not expected to be on the agenda. Mr. Qin urged Mr. Jiang, the most powerful Chinese leader since the death Feb. 19 of the paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, to produce a timetable for democratic change. (AP)