14th anniversary: An open letter to the Supreme People's Procuratorate
June 4, 2003 - 03:00
May 29, 2003
The Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China:
As people injured in the massacre and family members of those who died in the June Fourth incident, we submitted our petition on May 17, 1999, to the Supreme People's Procuratorate requesting an investigation into the incident to determine the legal responsibility of former Premier Li Peng, in accordance with relevant regulations of the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Law. On May 24 of the same year, we submitted to you supporting documents regarding this petition.
According to the stipulations of the Criminal Procedure Law of the PRC, the Supreme People's Procuratorate should carry out an investigation promptly regarding any petition materials received from citizens, and reveal to the complainants findings of the investigation within a certain period of time in accordance with the law. However, we have received no response in the course of the four years since we lodged the petition. The Constitution and the laws are supreme, every citizen has the right to lodge a petition to hold the accused accountable. The judicial organs should protect this right of citizens in practice. Moreover, no matter whether the accused is a former official or not, if the accused is proved to have violated the criminal law, the person should in no way be exempted from being brought to justice with impunity.
According to the facts listed in our petition dated May 17, 1999, we think that it was indeed an abuse of the military power of the state for the then Communist leaders Li Peng and the late Deng Xiaoping to deploy, in the name of the government, tens of thousands of troops violently to suppress and kill innocent and unarmed civilians engaged in peaceful demonstrations, as there is absolutely no evidence that there had been an armed riot or rebellion in Beijing at that time.
We also think that this large-scale massacre of peaceful demonstrators and civilians not only violates the Constitution but also conflicts with the international obligations of a state to protect its people. The massacre not only ignored human rights and civil rights, but itself was indeed a crime against humanity. The act constitutes a clear violation of civil rights, particularly the right to life. The outcome of the act demonstrates that a crime was committed.
In the May 1999 petition submitted to the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate, we also stated that former Premier Li Peng was not only involved in the decision-making among the highest rank of leaders, but was also himself the person directly implementing that decision. He should therefore bear the most responsibility for the massacre and its serious results. He should be brought to trial for his acts.
As victims and the family members of victims, we are justified in requesting that Li Peng be held accountable. Even though he has already left his position, we will not give up our demand. Thus we hereby again request that the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate launch an investigation promptly and respond to us with a clear answer.
Complaints: Ding Zilin, Zhang Xianling, Zhou Shuzhuang, Li Xuewen, Xu Jue, You Weijie, Du Dongyu, Zhao Tingjie, Guo Liying , Yin Min, Zhang Yanqiu, Huang Jinping, Kuang Diqing, Yang Dayong, Zhang Shushen, Feng Youxiang, Wu Dingfu, Sun Chengkang, Fang Zheng, Qi Zhiyong and others (117 people)