HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA PRESS RELEASE NO.9, 1999 MARCH 2, 1999

A newly-formed group of June Fourth victims, led by Ding Zilin, seeks an open dialogue with China's leaders. Appealing for a reassessment of the official verdict on June Fourth, the June Fourth Victims Dialogue Delegation proposes the formation of a June 4 Investigation Committee, which will publicize all findings; the drafting of a "June Fourth Victims Compensation Law"; and a formal procuratorial investigation into the June Fourth Massacre in order to bring those responsible to justice.

A full English translation of the letter from the June Fourth Victims Dialogue Delegation to China's Leaders appears below.

A Letter from the June Fourth Victims Dialogue Delegation to the Leaders of China

Calling for an Open Dialogue on the June Fourth Massacre

To:

Chairman Jiang Zemin

Prime Minister Zhu Rongji

National People's Congress Standing Committee Vice-Chairman Tian Jiyun

Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee Chairman Li Ruihuan

This year is the tenth anniversary of the June Fourth tragedy. As survivors of that event, we--the injured, disabled and families of those killed--have lived through ten years of torment. In this time, we have written many letters to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, calling on the authorities to stop turning a deaf ear to public opinion and to engage in direct and candid dialogue on June Fourth and its victims.

However, to this day, we have not received a response from the government.

The June Fourth Massacre seriously damaged China as a country and a people.

Thousands of families lost loved ones. Tens of thousands were injured or disabled. This was the most ruthless act of peace-time violence in China's last one hundred years. Internationally, this was one of the most brutal peace-time massacres in the twentieth century. June Fourth has already become a matter of history, however it has left behind an era of nightmarish fear that still weighs upon each and every one of us.

Ten years later, we, as well as all sectors of Chinese society and all justice-seeking people everywhere, again call for the reassessment of the official verdict on June Fourth; the reversal of all false statements on the 1989 Tiananmen Movement; and the restoration of the original image of this great democracy movement. We call on China's present leaders to take this opportunity to settle accounts with history, start afresh, reinitiate political reform, guarantee citizens' rights and implement democratic constitutionalism.

In order to ensure the genuine response of the government, we have exercised great restraint--keeping in mind the overall public interest of the country's stability; continually considering the welfare of the entire population; and consistently advocating a democratic and lawful path in utilizing the methods of consultation and discussion to obtain a just resolution of the June Fourth issue. In the absence of the government's proper handling of the "June Fourth Incident," we have taken our own efforts to provide mutual assistance and consolation in the healing of our wounds. Furthermore, we have used non-political means to seek humanitarian assistance from inside and outside of China in order to ensure, to the best of our ability, that care is given to the elderly, education is provided to the young, and comfort is offered to the injured, disabled, sick and weak.

However ten years have passed, and the government authorities have not only failed to express the slightest sincerity in finding a resolution of June Fourth, they have repeatedly asserted that: "Verdicts already made cannot be changed." This kind of position in no way represents popular opinion, and we absolutely cannot accept it. We hope that China's present leaders can change this attitude and resolutely abandon the judgment that Deng Xiaoping, Li Peng and others made against the 1989 Democracy Movement and the "June Fourth Incident." We hope that they can confront the crimes of the past and bravely take up the responsibility of their consequences.

This is the last year of the twentieth century. In the last one hundred years, the Chinese people have endured endless suffering, with generation after generation sustaining deep wounds. We, the Chinese people, should not carry such misery and injury into the new century. At this critical juncture, we strongly urge the government authorities to resolve the June Fourth issue now and not let it proceed into the next century.

For this purpose, we, in the name of the June Fourth Victims Dialogue Delegation, ask that Chairman Jiang Zemin, Prime Minister Zhu Rongji, National People's Congress Standing Committee Vice-Chairman Tian Jiyun, and Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee Chairman Li Ruihuan, use the following points to engage in an open dialogue on the "June Fourth Incident" with us on equal terms:

1. Form a June Fourth Investigation Committee, consisting of representatives from all sectors of China's society, to make a just and independent inquiry into all matters related to June Fourth. Findings of this inquiry, including the figures and names of all of those killed, should be publicized throughout China.

2. Order relevant government agencies to provide individual explanations to the family members of all the those killed in the "June Fourth Incident."

Formulate and pass a bill through the National People's Congress for the proposed "June Fourth Victims Compensation Law." Use this law to give appropriate compensation to those injured and the families of those killed.

3. Order relevant procuratorial organs to open formal investigations into the June Fourth Massacre, in accordance with law, in order to bring those responsible to justice.

With the tenth anniversary of the June Fourth Massacre fast approaching, we hope for your sincere reply. We urge that concrete plans are made for dialogue. At the same time, we appeal to all sectors of society to show concern for the plight of June Fourth victims and press for a just resolution of June Fourth.

Members of the June Fourth Victims Dialogue Delegation (20 people):

Ding Zilin, Zhang Xianling, Li Xuewen, Zhou Shuzhuang, Xu Ye, Kuang Diqing, Yang Darong, Su Bingxian, Zhang Shusen, Yin Min, You Weijie, Huang Jinping, Fang Zheng, Feng Youxiang, Sun Chengkang, Du Dongxue, Guo Liying, Zhang Yanqiu, Wu Dingfu, Qi Zhiyong

Contact person: Ding Zilin (Address: 100572, Beijing, People's University, Jing Yuan, Building 1, No. 43; Telephone: 62512951)

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