Jiang Qisheng: Arrested for keeping the June Fourth spirit alive
Jiang Qisheng refuses to let the world forget June Fourth. A student leader in the 1989 democracy movement, Jiang has spent the last 10 years actively engaged in documenting the victims killed and injured in the June Fourth Massacre. Working closely with Ding Zilin, who lost her son in the slaughter, Jiang has also played a vital role in distributing humanitarian funds to help sustain the shattered lives of those caught in the Tiananmen crackdown. Through the years, Jiang has been sharply critical of the Chinese authorities for their violent attack on the peaceful demonstrators and residents of Beijing in 1989, and he has been outspoken in advocating the reversal of the official verdict against June Fouth.
For the 10th anniversary of June Fourth, Jiang led 15 activists from Beijing, Shaanxi and Sichuan in drafting an open letter to the people of China, appealing for a collective quiet commemoration of the massacre. Issued on April 15, 1999, the open letter calls for people to keep silence and light candles in honor of those killed, and provides a list of recommendations for further acts of commemoration. The letter also denounces China's leaders for ordering the bloody crackdown and includes a strongly-worded critique of China's current social ills.
Despite increasingly repressive conditions in the run-up to the June Fourth anniversary, Jiang continued to speak out for the victims of June Fourth both past and present. On May 17, Jiang issued an appeal on behalf of Cao Jiahe, the Dongfang magazine editor who was arbitrarily detained and tortured for collecting signatures to protest the June Fourth crackdown. In the appeal, Jiang denounced the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) for gross human rights violations
committed against Cao, who was forcibly taken from his home blindfolded on May 10 and held incommunicado until May 14. While detained, Cao was subjected to a marathon three-day interrogation session, and pressured to confess the details of his signature campaign and other plans for June Fourth activities. During this time, Cao was forced to kneel, as police officers repeatedly kicked him and whipped him with a belt.
Soon after releasing this information, Jiang himself fell victim to the authorities' heavy-handed measures. Late on the night of May 18, Jiang was taken from his home by police, without a warrant and absent all due process. Officers bearing a search warrant then spent two hours ransacking his home, confiscating his computer, answering-machine tapes and other items. Jiang's wife Zhang Hong repeatedly implored the authorities to respect proper legal procedures and to provide the location and reason for Jiang's detention. But all her requests were ignored.
On May 24, a police officer was sent to the couple's home to pick up 500 yuan and clothing for Jiang, but he would not disclose any further information. It was only on July 9, when Zhang received a note from Jiang asking for an additional 500 yuan, that she learned her husband was being held at Banbuqiao Detention Center. However, the authorities had yet to present any legal documentation for Jiang's detention. Zhang was especially concerned because her husband had never made requests for money or possessions during his previous short detentions. On July 16, two officers from the Beijing PSB verbally informed Zhang that Jiang had been formally arrested several days earlier on the charge of "propagating and instigating subversion." However, the officers would not give the exact time of arrest and refused to provide Zhang with the official arrest notice, in violation of China's Criminal Procedure Law. By denying Zhang access to the official arrest notice, the PSB effectively delayed the involvement of Jiang's
lawyer and hindered his ability to prepare the case, severely restricting Jiang's right to legal counsel and defense. Jiang's trial is imminent, though no date has been announced.
A history of activism
A graduate of the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics, Jiang Qisheng, now 51, was a Ph.D. candidate in the Philosophy Department of People's University when the 1989 democracy demonstrations began. Jiang was the deputy head of the Standing Committee of the independent Beijing Students Autonomous Federation's Dialogue Delegation, which negotiated with government authorities during the democracy movement. Jiang was arrested in September 1989 and served 18 months in prison. Upon his release, he was expelled from school and denied regular employment.
Over the years Jiang has been involved in a variety of human rights and democracy activities, including signing the petitions "Appeal for Tolerance" and "Drawn Lessons from Blood" in the citizen campaigns of 1995. Jiang is the spokesperson for the citizens' movement which in 1998 issued the groundbreaking documents, the "Declaration on Civil Rights and Freedom" and the "Declaration on Civil Rights and Social Justice." (For full translations, see China Rights Forum, Spring 1999.)
Jiang's activism caused him to suffer relentless harassment and repeated detentions by the Chinese authorities throughout the last decade. His courage and commitment to human rights and democracy have earned him a place of respect within China's dissident and intellectual circles. Jiang's current detention provoked outrage in the activist community, sparking a series of petitions demanding Jiang's immediate, unconditional release. On May 28, a group of June Fourth victims sent an appeal to China's leaders which read, "Jiang Qisheng is an upright citizen. He has always advocated his views in a peaceful and reasonable manner. Over the years, Jiang Qisheng has shown sympathy and concern to us June Fourth victims. He has supported us in our legal action, and he has given us great comfort. Recently, Jiang proposed that citizens should light candles to silently commemorate those killed on June Fourth. This should be the right of all citizens. What crime is there in this?" The following is the full text of the ope
n letter on commemorating the 10th anniversary of June Fourth.
Light a Myriad of Candles to Collectively
Commemorate the Brave Spirits of June Fourth
An open letter to the Chinese people
Dear Fellow Countrymen,
Exactly 10 years ago, a great movement emerged across the vast land of China, which shook both heaven and earth. It was a protest movement that opposed corruption and fought profiteering. It was a democratic movement that spoke truth and sought rights. It was a patriotic movement that strove for reform and pursued China's prosperity. Within those 50 days that will forever live in memory, hundreds of thousands of ardent Chinese citizens exhibited an awakening of humanity and consciousness through the simple and solemn exercise of their civil rights. They elevated the image of the Chinese people and created a bright light in Chinese history.
However, this upright movement, which clearly represented the will of the people, was falsely labeled "turmoil" and "counterrevolutionary rebellion" by China's muddle-headed leaders. These leaders brazenly ordered the bloody crackdown that turned tanks and guns against the people, shocking the world with the extremely tragic event that embodied injustice, falsehood and wrongfulness. The June Fourth Massacre is one of this century's most serious crimes against humanity. It is a disgrace for China and for all of mankind.
In the 10 years since the June Fourth Massacre, corruption has intensified, with embezzlers and bribe-takers congratulating each other on their high positions, and the exchange for power and money reaching an all-time high. Justice is barely left standing.
In the 10 years since the June Fourth Massacre, state-owned capital is quickly disappearing, and state-owned resources continually face disaster. The rich are getting richer, while the poor are getting poorer. Chinese society seethes with discontent as danger lurks on every side.
In the ten years since the June Fourth Massacre, restrictions on expression, the press and politics have continued as before. The speaking of truth, the publication of genuine news and independent organization have led to harsh repression.
In the 10 years since the June Fourth Massacre, the victims injured and the families of those killed have lived in torment. The individuals imprisoned for their role in the 1989 Democracy Movement and many other political prisoners have been wasting away in China's jails. The unemployed, as well as the urban and rural poor, have no outlet to air their grievances. Though reason is on their side, they are not allowed to speak. They weep tears, but they dare not cry out.
This situation shows that in the last 10 years, while the government has been intent on erasing memory of the June Fourth Massacre and the authorities have stubbornly insisted that the verdict against June Fourth "will never be changed," justice continues to be ignored, fairness is still trampled upon, morality is declining, livelihoods are imperiled, rights are restricted, transformation is denied and China's restoration is out of reach.
Fellow countrymen, for the future of China, for social justice, and for the personal benefit of consoling your own conscience: let us resist forgetting, refuse falsehood and take a stand. For the 10th anniversary of June Fourth, let us hold a wide-scale commemoration in this vast land of China. The means of commemoration can be manifold. One thing that we can all do easily on the nights of June 3 and June 4, is to turn out the lights in our homes for one hour, and to light candles to show our respect and solidarity. While a single candle may not count for much, tens of thousands of candles are enough to rouse the will of the people and strike awe in their souls. This action will be a silent commemoration of the freedom, dignity and heroism of the 1989 movement. This action will be a silent denunciation of the atrocity that crushed human rights, and a silent condemnation of the abrogation of justice in the name of "stability." This action will be a silent expression of the pursuit of freedom, the championing
of justice, the protection of human rights and the demand for democracy.
Fellow countrymen, when the sun sets on June 3, let us light a myriad of candles to collectively commemorate the brave spirits of June Fourth!
Signatories:
Jiang Qisheng
Wang Dao
Zhu Rui
Wang Linhai
Wang Linjian
Ma Qiang
Pan Qing
Jin Cheng
Yang Hai
Wu Shuangyin
Ma Xiaoming
Guo Junsheng
Tan Zhiping
Wang Zhongling
Lu Zhongming
Li Zhiying
Proposals for activities to commemorate the tenth anniversary of June Fourth
Shun recreation
-On the nights June 3 and June 4, consciously desist from engaging in recreational activities.
Wear white
-On the nights June 3 and June 4, wear white clothing to indicate mourning.
Make phone calls
-Beginning at 9:00 p.m. on June 3, make phone calls to mourn for June Fourth victims and discuss the need for justice.
Send beeper messages
-Beginning at 9:00 p.m. on June 3, send beeper messages with three simple words: Please observe silence.
Send e-mail
-On the nights June 3 and June 4, send e-mail commemorating June Fourth.
Write letters
-Beginning on April 15, write letters expressing sympathy to those injured and the families of those killed in the June Fourth Massacre. Write letters of criticism to Li Peng.
Light candles
-On the nights June 3 and June 4, turn out the lights in your home and light candles to comfort the spirits of the brave departed.
Take walks together
-On the nights June 3 and June 4, leave your homes to join like-minded individuals in a collective walk.
Individuals who have even more courage can consider calling hotlines sponsored by international media organizations; distributing and posting commemorative essays; organizing June Fourth video screenings or photo exhibits; and holding candlelight vigils outside your homes.
Some friends from Beijing and Xi'an
April 15, 1999
NB: This document can be passed on, photocopied, or put up as posters and on the Web.
Compiled and translated by Judy M. Chen.
