DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250089
TITLE=CHINA / JUNE FOURTH / COURT (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA'S VIOLENT SUPPRESSION OF
THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT WAS MARKED TODAY (TUESDAY) IN NEW
YORK. POLITICAL DISSIDENTS AND RELATIVES OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THE
CRACKDOWN ARE CALLING FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE
INCIDENT AND THE REVERSAL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFICIAL VERDICT ON
THE MATTER. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS MORE FROM NEW
YORK.
TEXT: SOME OF CHINA'S BEST KNOWN POLITICAL DISSIDENTS
PARTICIPATED IN THE CALL. THEY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR A LEGAL
PETITION -- JUST SUBMITTED TO CHINA'S SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT --
DEMANDING A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS THE
JUNE FOURTH MASSACRE. THE PETITION SAYS TOP CHINESE LEADERS,
INCLUDING FORMER PRIME MINISTER LI PENG, SHOULD BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLING OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS BY TROOPS
DURING MARTIAL LAW.
MS. DING ZILIN, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY IN
BEIJING, WHOSE SON WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING THE 1989 CRACKDOWN,
IS ONE OF THE 105 VICTIMS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SUBMITTED THE
PETITION IN LATE MAY. MS. DING, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER,
PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW YORK NEWS CONFERENCE BY TELEPHONE.
/// DING ZILIN INTERPRETER ACT ///
WE DO NOT DEMAND AN EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH
[REVENGE], AND DO NOT WISH TO FEED THE HATRED AMONG
HUMAN BEINGS THAT CAN BE STIRRED BY SLOGANS SUCH AS
BLOOD DEBTS MUST BE REPAID IN BLOOD. STILL, SINCE LI
PENG WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE
DECISION TO UNDERTAKE THE GREAT MASSACRE, AS WELL AS THE
PERSON DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN CARRYING OUT THE DECISION,
HE HAS INESCAPABLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONSEQUENCES.
IN FILING SUIT AGAINST HIM, WE SEEK AN EARLY END TO A
HISTORY IN WHICH INNOCENT CITIZENS CAN SUFFER ARBITRARY
SLAUGHTER IN OUR COUNTRY AND HOPE THAT NO MOTHER IN
CHINA WILL EVER AGAIN HAVE TO SUFFER A FATE LIKE OURS.
/// END ACT ///
EVIDENCE COLLECTED AND SUBMITTED BY MS. DING AND OTHERS INCLUDES
A LIST OF 155 PEOPLE KILLED AND 65 WOUNDED DURING THE CRACKDOWN
-- IN ADDITION TO 27 DETAILED SIGNED TESTIMONIES.
ONE OF THE STUDENT LEADERS IN THE 1989 MOVEMENT, LI LU, SAYS IT
IS THE FIRST LAWSUIT OF ITS KIND EVER SUBMITTED IN CHINA.
/// LI LU ACT ///
TODAY'S LAWSUIT MARKED THE VERY, VERY FIRST OCCASION AN
ORDINARY CHINESE HAS BROUGHT A LAWSUIT AGAINST SITTING
COMMUNIST OFFICIALS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR CRIMES NO
LESS THAN MURDER. IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE FIRST TIME IN
THE HISTORY OF A COMMUNIST REGIME, INDEED IN THE
HISTORY, PERHAPS, IN THE CHINESE CIVILIZATION.
/// END ACT ///
LI LU AND OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PARTICIPATING IN THE NEW
YORK NEWS CONFERENCE SAY THEY EXPECT THE CHINESE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
TO REJECT THE PETITION. THEY SAY CHINA'S LEGAL SYSTEM REMAINS
UNDER THE TIGHT CONTROL OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY. FORMER PRIME
MINISTER LI PENG IS CURRENTLY CHIEF OF CHINA'S PARLIAMENT AND THE
NUMBER TWO LEADER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY.
THE POLITICAL DISSIDENTS SAY IF THE PETITION IS REJECTED THEY
WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE ISSUE THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS.
/// BEGIN OPT ///
LIU QING, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, IS A LONG-TIME
PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST WHO IS NOW CHAIRMAN OF NEW YORK-BASED
HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA.
/// LIU INTERPRETER ACT - OPT ///
THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP THAT THIS GROUP OF THE
BEREAVED AND CRIPPLED IS READ TO TAKE. IF THE
PROCURATURE REFUSES TO BEGIN INVESTIGATIONS, THE GROUP
WILL EXERCISE ITS LEGAL RIGHT TO BRING PRIVATE
PROSECUTION OF THE JUNE FOURTH CRIMES DIRECTLY TO
CHINA'S SUPREME COURT. THE GROUP IS ALSO PREPARED, IF
ITS CASE IS NOT ACCEPTED AT THE SUPREME COURT, TO BRING
TO THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, AND TO ITS STANDING
COMMITTEE, A REQUEST FOR SPECIFIC LEGISLATION TO
INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE A CRIMINAL CASE. IF AND WHEN
ALL LEGAL AVENUES WITHIN CHINA HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, THE
GROUP IS PREPARED TO SEEK JUSTICE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY BY BRINGING ITS CASE TO AN INTERNATIONAL
TRIBUNAL FOR TRIAL AS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
/// END ACT -- END OPT ///
SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO DEFEND THE
JUNE FOURTH, 1989, CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS.
THEY SAY IT WAS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
STABILITY IN THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR
01-Jun-99 5:35 PM EDT (2135 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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