BEIJING (AP) - Dissidents and relatives of people killed in the crushing of the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square demanded Monday that China's leaders punish those behind the attack and compensate survivors.

The appeal from Ding Zilin, a retired professor whose son was killed in the crackdown, and 19 other family members of victims came six days before the anniversary of the June 4, 1989, assault.

In an open letter to President Jiang Zemin and other leaders, the families appealed for an investigation, the prosecution of those responsible and compensation for bereaved relatives.

"The June 4 incident of 1989 is already part of history, but it remains a tragedy and disgrace for all people; that certainly has not passed," said the letter sent to Chinese and foreign news organizations.

The petition demanded an independent investigation into the assault, with the results and names of those killed made public.

The letter noted that earlier requests for a reassessment of the suppression of the demonstrations went unanswered.

Overturning the official verdict that the demonstrations were a "counterrevolutionary rebellion" would clear the names of those involved in the protests and signal a tolerance for political reform.

Such a step, however, would be politically difficult given that several current leaders supported the military attack and ensuing countrywide crackdown in which thousands of pro-democracy Chinese were arrested.

"The leaders don't have enough courage or confidence to face up to the events of 11 years ago," said Ding. "But we will not give up. We are confident that justice and truth are on our side."

On orders from Communist Party leaders, soldiers shot their way into Beijing, killing hundreds before ousting protesters from the square on June 4, 1989.

In a separate appeal, nine dissidents in northeastern Liaoning province issued a joint letter Monday to Jiang calling for a reassessment of the protests and a release of political prisoners.

"The 1989 protests were started by students but attracted the entire public to oppose nepotism, bureaucratism and corruption. This was a patriotic movement," said a copy of the letter sent via the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

Describing the government's condemnation of the demonstrations as "absolutely mistaken," it urged Jiang and other leaders to reassess the democracy movement with "courage and a sense of historical responsibility."

© The Canadian Press, 2000