Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, October 15, 1996

Source: `Ming Pao', Hong Kong, in Chinese 10 Oct 96 p A12-A13

An article in the 10th October Hong Kong newspaper `Ming Pao'carried the text of an exchange between two leading Chinese dissidents, Liu Xiaobo (now sentenced to a labour camp) and Wang Xizhe. The debate was held in August this year near Guangzhou, but the article was held over until 10th October to mark China's National Day from the 1911 revolution. The dissidents contended that although the Chinese communist government was the sole legitimate ruler of all China, it had reneged on many of the rights given to citizens in early versions of the constitution and on promises held out to minority peoples about self-rule. The dissidents quoted chapter and verse to support their arguments. They also called for the impeachment of President Jiang Zemin for contending that the People's Liberation Army was only answerable to the Chinese Communist Party. They pointed out that under the constitution, the military is answerable to the National People's Congress, which, by rights should have its role extended and enhanced.

The dissidents also said that the lack of Chinese government support for the Diaoyu Islands campaign showed that the party is now practising what it had accused the Guomindang (Kuomintang) of doing in the 1940s, namely appeasing Japanese militarism. The following is the text of the article by Wang Xizhe (3769 1585 0772) and Liu Xiaobo (0491 2556 3134) entitled: "Views on several major state issues concerning China today (10th October 1996)" in the Hong Kong newspaper `Ming Pao'; subheadings as published; phrases highlighted in bold type as published:

[Below is the text related to the Tibetan issue. If anyone wants the entire text write to tibetlondon@gn.apc.org]

II. The Tibet issue

The right of national self-determination is a basic human right of the human race in modern times. It is not only contained in the first article of the UN Convention on Human Rights and generally recognized by the international community, but also a basic principle advocated by Marxism-Leninism.

During the revolutionary war years, the CCP vigorously advocated the right of national self-determination. In the "Constitutional Programme of the Chinese Soviet Republic" set up in Ruijin, Jiangxi, the CCP not only acknowledged the right of self-determination of ethnic minorities in China, but also boldly announced that it "will consistently acknowledge that various weak minority nationalities have the right to break away from China to set up independent states" .

Mao Zedong, chairman of the Soviet Republic, also specifically announced in his policy address that "the Mongol, Hui, Tibetan, Miao, Li and Gaoli peoples can voluntarily decide whether to break away from the Soviet Federation [as published] to set up independent regions" .

The CCP advocated national self-determination in the revolutionary war years

In the "10 Programmes for Resisting Japanese Aggression and Saving the Country" , the right of national self-determination remained the CCP's policy.

In his report to the Seventh CCP National Congress, Mao Zedong cited Mr Sun Zhongshan's [Sun Yat-sen] declaration while commenting on the nationality policies of the future coalition government advocated by the CCP, saying:

"In 1924, in his `Declaration of the First KMT National Congress', Sun Zhongshan said... [ellipsis as published] the KMT solemnly announces it acknowledges the right of self-determination of the various nationalities within China. They should set up a free and unified republic of China (a coalition jointly set up by the various nationalities of their own free will) after winning victory in opposing imperialism and the revolution against the warlords."

Mao Zedong declared:

"The CCP fully agrees with Mr Sun's nationality policy."

Wang Xizhe and Liu Xiaobo also fully support this liberal and progressive policy of Mr Sun and the CCP.

However, after seizing political power, the CCP once again failed to honour its promise. On 5th October 1949, less than one year from the founding of the PRC, the CCP Central Committee issued a document containing criticisms and instructions to the Front Committee of Deng Xiaoping's second field army, which was heading for southwest China, an area inhabited by ethnic minorities.

"It is necessary not to stress the right of national self-determination for ethnic minorities. During the civil war, to win over minority nationalities to oppose the KMT's reactionary rule (the KMT especially displayed Han chauvinism before the ethnic minorities), our party stressed the slogan. This was absolutely right .