DATE=6/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250200
TITLE=TIANANMEN / WASHINGTON (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=COLIN LOVETT
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEMBERS OF THE FREE CHINA MOVEMENT HAVE GATHERED OUTSIDE
THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE CRACKDOWN ON THE TIANANMEN SQUARE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.
V-O-A'S COLIN LOVETT REPORTS THE ACTIVISTS LAUNCHED A NEW APPEAL
FOR POLITICAL REFORMS IN CHINA.
TEXT:
// ACT OF NAMES BEING READ / ESTABLISH AND FADE //
FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES, PARTICIPANTS AT THE RALLY READ THE
NAMES OF THOSE WHO DIED WHEN CHINESE TROOPS CRUSHED THE
STUDENT-LED PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTS IN 1989.
STANDING IN FRONT OF A MAKE-SHIFT MEMORIAL TO THE VICTIMS OF THE
CRACKDOWN, THE ACTIVISTS CALLED ON THE WORLD TO REMEMBER THOSE
WHO SUFFERED IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM.
EXILED DISSIDENT LIAN SHENGDE, WHO SERVED TWO YEARS IN PRISON
FOR HELPING LEAD THE 1989 PROTESTS, SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE
COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT IN BEIJING TO ADMIT THE CRACKDOWN WAS A
MISTAKE AND BEGIN INTRODUCING POLITICAL REFORMS.
// LIAN ACT //
ONLY WITH THESE MEASURES CAN THE CHINESE PEOPLE FORGIVE
THEIR CRIMES IN 1989. ONLY WITH THESE MEASURES CHINA
CAN HAVE A REAL STABLE SOCIETY.
// END ACT //
MEMBERS OF THE FREE CHINA MOVEMENT ARE ALSO CALLING FOR BEIJING
TO RELEASE ALL OF IT POLITICAL PRISONERS. THEY NOTE A STEPPED UP
CAMPAIGN AGAINST ACTIVISTS OVER THE PAST YEAR, PARTICULARLY
MEMBERS OF THE CHINA DEMOCRACY PARTY.
// ACT OF CHANT //
TEAR DOWN THE GREAT WALL OF HUMAN RIGHTS SUPPRESSION IN
CHINA (TEAR DOWN THE WALL) ... TEAR DOWN THAT WALL TODAY
(TEAR DOWN THAT WALL TODAY) .. GIVE LIBERTY, GIVE
DEMOCRACY, GIVE A NEW LIFE TO THE PEOPLE OF CHINA.
// END ACT //
// OPT // TIMOTHY COOPER, INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE FREE
CHINA MOVEMENT, WANTS BEIJING TO HONOR ITS COMMITMENTS UNDER THE
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, WHICH CHINA
SIGNED LAST YEAR.
// COOPER ACT //
WE WANT YOU (CHINA) TO HONOR YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMITMENTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW. THIS IS NO
LONGER STRICTLY AN INTERNAL MATTER. UNDER INTERNATIONAL
LAW IT IS A UNIVERSAL MATTER. YOU ARE NOW SUBJECT TO
THE CONDEMNATION OF THE WORLD BECAUSE OF YOUR SIGNATURE
ON THAT COVENANT.
// END ACT //
THE ACTIVISTS IN WASHINGTON ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH PRESIDENT
CLINTON'S DECISION TO RENEW NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA,
SAYING THE U-S POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH BEIJING SHOULD BE
CLOSELY LINKED TO IMPROVEMENTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS // END OPT //
OFFICIALS FROM THE CHINESE EMBASSY REFUSE TO DISCUSS THE PROTEST
IN WASHINGTON. BEIJING HAS REPEATEDLY SAID IT WILL NOT CHANGE
ITS VERDICT THAT THE 1989 CRACKDOWN WAS NECESSARY TO STOP WHAT IT
CALLED "COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY" THREAT. (SIGNED)
NEB/CBL/GM
03-Jun-99 4:54 PM EDT (2054 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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