TO THE NEW LEADERS OF CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY
AND THE CHINESE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
February 1, 2003
We, the undersigned representatives of the members of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearance (AFAD) from seven Asian countries, strongly express our concern over the inaction and denial for any responsibility by the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Central Government in the violent crackdown on the peaceful civilian pro-democratic demonstrations which happened thirteen years ago in 1989 in Beijing.
The then leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Central Government cannot escape from the responsibility to this military crackdown, for the world was the solemn witness to the inhuman act and great injustice that befell the peaceful civilian demonstrators in Beijing. We are alarmed that such condemnable act could go unpunished despite the repeated calls for justice from the victims, their families and the international community.
Thirteen years had passed and the victims and their families continue to mourn, let alone suffer in silence for their demands fell on deaf ears and minds of the Chinese Central Government and the new leaders of the Chinese Communist Party.
We support and reiterate the calls and demands of the families and friends of the Tiannamen Mothers Campaign, to wit:
- establish an independent fact-finding committee to investigate the June 4, 1989 incident and publicize the result of the investigation;
- Provide a list of those who were killed and abducted in the crackdown;
- Hold liable those who are responsible for the crackdown;
- Provide compensation to the families of the victims and to those who were injured in the tragic incident of June 4;
- Stop any kind of persecution on the victims and their families;
- Release immediately those are detained and put into jail because of their involvement in the pro-democratic movement;
- Release immediately the humanitarian fund transferred through the Bank of China to Ding Zilin for the victims and their families as humanitarian aid;
- Hold a dialogue with the victims and the members of the families of the victims.
The deep wound that was inflicted into the hearts of the victims of this injustice could never be healed by suppression over time. Authoritative and suppressive measures could only be employed temporarily to silence the people, but national reconciliation and justice fostering genuine stability could never be attained. Thus, we sincerely appeal to the ruling new leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and to the Chinese Central Government to resolve the Tiananmen Square tragedy and hear the demands and calls of the people who demand for justice. The lives that were mercilessly claimed by the bullets and tanks to sprawl blood to the Tiananmen Square and in other areas in the capital have breathed life to the people around the world who condemn violence and other acts of injustice.
Signed this 30th day of January 2003, in Antipolo, Philippines during the Leadership Training/Seminar of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearance (AFAD)
Sincerely yours,
SHEIKH AHMED PARVEZ, Kashmir, India
SHEIKH AADIL NAZIR, Kashmir, India
VIRGINIA LAI, Hong Kong
MUGIYANTO, Indonesia
SRI SUPARYATI, Indonesia
FAROOQ NIAZI, Pakistan
CHANDRA PEIRIS, Sri Lanka
SHANTHA PATHIRANA, Sri Lanka
LOUIE CRISMO, Philippines
KRONKARN SUEBSATHAURN, Thailand
CHALEEMAS VERAWONGSE, Thailand
MARY AILEEN DIEZ-BACALSO, Secretary-General of AFAD
