Families of Tiananmen victims appeal
for reassessment, compensation
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