Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- UA000523(7)

A Campaign for Justice:
An Outcry from Tiananmen Mothers
~ PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ~
23 May 2000
update

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background
 

Summary

On 14 May 2000 - Mother's Day in Hong Kong - the Justice and Peace Commission of Catholic Archdiocese of Hong Kong, Human Rights in China and the Christian Industrial Committee (all non-governmental organisations) launched the "Mother Campaign". The campaign is in support of the Tiananmen Mothers' Group which supports the victims of the June 4th 1989 Massacre in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, and their families (especially the mothers). The Group has continuously asked the authorities to carry out an investigation, and account for the June 4th 1989 Massacre. The mothers have now identified over 160 victims killed or who disappeared at the time and 70 others who were injured. They believe that there are more victims than this number because some people are missing and their bodies have never been found. Behind these numbers stand over 150 mothers who have forever lost their sons and daughters, those who demonstrated and expressed their opinion peacefully. You are now being called to support these victims.

Further information about the June 4th Massacre, the testimonies of the victims and their families, details of the 155 known victims and other relevant information can be found at the website <www.hrichina.org/june4-10yr/menu.html>. Hardcopies can be provided by Hotline upon request.
 
Action Requested

Please (1) sign the postcards, (2) sign the online petition and/or (3) write polite letters to the President of the People's Republic of China to express your deep concern and support for the victims of the 4th June 1989 Massacre and their families. Also request for an investigation into those who were responsible for the violence on that day.

(1) Sign the Postcards: postcards are available by post only.

(2) Sign the Online Petition: the website <www.FillTheSquare.org> will be launched on June 4, the 11th anniversary of the June 4th Massacre. (The headquarters of Human Rights in China, based in New York will collect all signatures from the online petition and send these to the Chinese Government.)

Send letters and faxes to:  
President Jiang Zemin
Beijingshi 100 032
People's Republic of China
C.C. to the Diplomatic representatives of the PRC in your country
  
CC Copy to:  
Diplomatic Representative of China in your country  
 

Sample Letter

I / we write with deep concern and sorrow in remembrance of the crackdown of the peaceful student and civilian movement at Tiananmen Square on 4th June 1989 by the People's Liberation Army and other armed personnel. Although your government claimed that the action was to restore order, all evidence show clearly the great number of unnecessary civilian deaths and injuries. I / we earnestly request your government to institute an investigation into the criminal acts committed by the armed forces during the crackdown. We also seek accountability for those who killed and injured either with direct or indirect intention according to Article 11 of the 1979 Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China.
 

Background

On June 4th 1989, with the whole world watching, the peaceful student protests at Tiananmen Square was violently ended by the People's Liberation Army and other armed forces. Hundreds of unarmed students and civilians were brutally killed and injured. The martial law troops opened fire without warning and tanks even ran over people. According to the statistics given by the government, there were 3,000 civilians injured and over 200 (including 36 university students) killed. The Chinese authorities calls the June 4th Massacre as the 'June 4th
Incident' and casualties were the result of a 'counter-attack' by troops while some onlookers were hit by 'stray bullets' and some 'rioters' were killed.

The Tiananmen Mothers have made a number of requests for dialogue with the Chinese Government for an investigation. These were all met with a stony silence. However victims and their families cannot forget what
happened to their loved ones and they formed a network to collect evidence of the crimes committed by martial law troops and document the story of every individual, in their search for justice for themselves and the victims. Throughout the years, those who have not given up the fight for justice for the victims of the June 4th Massacre have been persecuted. Some were imprisoned as political criminals, some are watched and visited by police while others were forced to retire or lost their jobs.

On 17 May 1999, two mothers who lost their sons in the Massacre, submitted papers to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the nation's top prosecutory body for an unprecedented legal action. The petition stated that, 'we, the June 4th victims and victims' families, submitted to the PRC Supreme People's Procuratorate... a petition for a thorough investigation of the "June 4th Incident" in order to bring to justice those responsible for the crimes of the massacre.' However in response to enquiries made by the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the Procuratorate denied receiving such a petition.

Locally in Hong Kong, the Tiananmen Mother's Campaign will continue for at least one year and solidarity activities will be organized. On 3 June, before the 11th anniversary of the June 4th Massacre, a dramatic tribute will be held at a church. Local students and teachers will be invited to participate. Prayer assemblies will also be held on the same day at different local churches.
 

Please remember to send copies of your letters to Hotline Asia for monitoring purpose.
Thank you for Your Continued Support!!