Chinese seek information from N.Z. about homeland

Press, 22 July 1989, Page 22

Chinese seek information from N.Z. about homeland

ALTHOUGH MOST of the outside world has a good idea of what went on in the suppression of the prodemocracy demonstrations in Peking on June 4, it seems that the Chinese themselves are still trying to find out. A 24-year-old man living in the southern Chinese city of Hangzhou has written to a friend in Christchurch, Denis O’Connor, asking for information. He says that on June 4, 5 and 6 the Chinese people knew nothing about what was happening in the capital. All they saw was a few words on their television screens, without pictures or even announcers. On June 7, two broadcasters appeared on television. "The man spoke In an odd (strange) accent (negative, not co-operating): the . woman was sobbing while speaking. Since that, I haven’t seen them on official TV screen.

"So in those days, surely you knew more than I did. I don’t know the whole procedure yet!" He says that he does not know the casualty figures. Officially, he was told 300 were killed — half ‘of them soldiers or police — and 2000 injured. "Who started to fire first, Students or Army?" he asks. "The Government said nothing about it. Chinese have right to know the whole thing and decide ’Are the students and supporters real contra-revolutionaries?’ “In China there is only one voice — Government’s voice, that’s all. Students want to change situation but failed. Compared with me, you are lucky.” He reports that today the streets are Calm, and order pre-

vails, superficially. "Does this express the mass agree with Government’s act? No! In our unit most people, especially youth, show sympathy to students strongly. But they have no courage to speak it out.” . “Where can they express their own true opinions?" he asks. They cannot do so in the newspapers, although some articles supporting the Government’s actions have been published. "Besides, everybody made of meat can only eat one bullet and is afraid of jail. That’s why the streets are silent."

He quotes the "Hangzhou Daily” as reporting that some 151 persons belonging to 18 illegal organisations had gone to the police station to confess what they had done during the demonstrations, because they feared being sent to prison. "How many are there all over China?” he asks. "Hangzhou is only a middle-size city. Some students are going to countryside to avoid being detained, maybe 1500 have been detained until now.”

The writer is appreciative of David Lange’s actions. He writes: "Your Premier who support the pro-democracy movement and pay sympathy to people spending time in jail is a good leader.” After quoting Abraham Lincoln, and Walter Lippman on democracy, he says: "The officer won’t read these words, but these words have realislc and perpetual significance. Youth believe it and don't believe officials’ voice. "In China, doing every true things is dangerous. Sometimes to write letter is dangerous too.”

- GARRY ARTHUR