The New York Times, Tuesday, February 17, 1998

Petition by Chinese Dissident

Beijing, Feb. 16 (Reuters) - A longtime Chinese dissident has sent a petition to Parliament calling for political reforms, a Hong Kong based rights group said today.

The dissident, Qin Yongmin, a former steelworker, was jailed for several years in 1981 for his role during the 1979 Democracy Wall movement.

He recently refused a demand from the Government that he leaves for exile in the United States.

His petition said national direct elections should be introduced within 20 years. He also called for freedom of speech, the rights to strike and the rights to form political parties.