When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others.
Friday 15 May 2009
Memoirs will cause party to reflect, ex-Zhao aide says
The memoirs of the former leader sacked in 1989 for sympathising with the Tiananmen student protesters would give the Communist Party plenty to think about when deciding the country’s political future, his one-time top aide said.
Memoirs will cause party to reflect, ex-Zhao aide says
Reuters in Beijing 15 May 2009
The memoirs of the former leader sacked in 1989 for sympathising with the Tiananmen student protesters would give the Communist Party plenty to think about when deciding the country’s political future, his one-time top aide said.
In his revelations, Zhao Ziyang praised western-style democracy and said multiparty politics, a free press and an independent judiciary were needed for China to become a parliamentary democracy.
Asked what the impact of the memoirs would be, Bao Tong , formerly Zhao’s most trusted aide, said: “I think it will cause party members to reflect deeply. I think it’s slightly more likely that senior leaders will read this book.
“It will give them a lot to think about, and cause them to think about the party’s basic survival.”
Mr. Bao is the most senior mainland official jailed over the Tiananmen protests. He said he was “100 per cent certain” the voice on an audio recording was Zhao’s after being given earphones to listen to excerpts during an interview at a Beijing hotel restaurant where he had been followed by plain-clothes police.
Zhao had been accused of splitting the party for challenging the decision of then-paramount leader Deng Xiaoping to send in troops to crush the pro-democracy protests centred on Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Zhao died in 2005 after more than 15 years under house arrest.
Asked if Zhao’s memoirs could split the party again, Mr. Bao was adamant: “No.”
While China has changed dramatically since 1989, with most people on the mainland richer and freer, Tiananmen is still taboo and the authorities are expected to ban Zhao’s memoirs.
“It will not be circulated widely,” Mr. Bao said. Zhao’s family declined requests for interviews.
The memoirs come during a sensitive year, when the party must navigate through potentially volatile anniversaries, including the June 4 anniversary of the crackdown and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, while coping with a slowing economy and rising unemployment.
Mr. Bao was once a political high-flier, and as secretary to the party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee held a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister. Now he is a thorn in the government’s side and is under surveillance around the clock.
“If the party wants to survive long-term and in accordance with the law, it will have to respect the law,” Mr. Bao said. “If they don’t, they will make the same mistakes they did on June 4.”
What they say
I think [Zhao’s memoirs] will cause [Communist] Party members to reflect deeply. I think it’s possible senior leaders will read this book. It will give them a lot to think about, and cause them to think about the party’s basic survival. If the party wants to survive in the long term and in accordance with the law, it will have to respect the law ... If they don’t, they will make the same mistakes they did on June 4
Bao Tong , former aide to Zhao Ziyang
[Zhao] did not leave instructions ... but clearly he wanted his story to survive when he was recording the tapes. He believed his valuable memories will fill in the blanks in this crucial period of China’s modern history, which the Communist Party has tried to erase. My father was always talking with him ... but translating Zhao’s memoirs has really helped me understand him. It’s my duty to do the translation
Bao Pu, Bao Tong’s son, who translated Zhao’s memoirs into English
I am expecting the memoirs to vividly describe details of political struggles, policies made by Zhao, Deng Xiaoping and other top leaders who played most important roles in modern China. I think the question of whether western democracy can be a solution to China’s political reforms will once again be debated among the Chinese once this book is published
Wuer Kaixi, former student leader of the 1989 pro-democracy movement
The book will prove eye-catching because it reveals so many inside stories about China’s top leaders. I believe the book will force people the world over, especially the China hands in western countries, to reassess Deng Xiaoping because at this stage even some US politicians have praised Deng as the greatest contributor to the success of China’s economic reforms. The impact of the book on the public will be much greater than among leadership circles because most Chinese officials focus on only economic, not political, reforms. But I think the book might encourage today’s Chinese youth to learn about Zhao and the 1989 Tiananmen massacre
Paul Lin, a Taipei-based political commentator who taught Communist Party history on the mainland from 1955 to 1976
I doubt Zhao’s memoirs would directly impact Chinese decision-makers because there is no possibility of a Zhao Ziyang faction existing that inherited his ideas about political reform. But Zhao’s open mind has influenced many intellectuals, so the book will have an indirect influence over young politicians who want to do something to solve the problems China is facing now
Poon Siu-to, Hong Kong-based political commentator
I hope Zhao’s memoirs will push the Beijing leadership to readdress the June 4 incident as soon as possible because it is a political wound for the Communist Party, like the Cultural Revolution. Zhao’s impact is still felt, and he told us only redress could bring us a truly stable society
Allen Lee Peng-fei, veteran Hong Kong politician and former National People’s Congress delegate
I am very glad to hear about the publication of Zhao’s memoirs. It is really good news as its publication did not come easily
Ding Zilin , founder of Tiananmen Mothers
The book will shock the world not only because of Zhao’s influence, but also the impact of the June 4 incident. The timing of the publication is very good as this year is the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre. The memoirs will be much more popular than the book, Zhao Ziyang: Captive Conversations, released in 2007, because his ideas on political reform are much more mature and comprehensive
Johnny Lau Yui-siu, Hong Kong-based political commentator
1 comment:
Memoirs will cause party to reflect, ex-Zhao aide says
Reuters in Beijing
15 May 2009
The memoirs of the former leader sacked in 1989 for sympathising with the Tiananmen student protesters would give the Communist Party plenty to think about when deciding the country’s political future, his one-time top aide said.
In his revelations, Zhao Ziyang praised western-style democracy and said multiparty politics, a free press and an independent judiciary were needed for China to become a parliamentary democracy.
Asked what the impact of the memoirs would be, Bao Tong , formerly Zhao’s most trusted aide, said: “I think it will cause party members to reflect deeply. I think it’s slightly more likely that senior leaders will read this book.
“It will give them a lot to think about, and cause them to think about the party’s basic survival.”
Mr. Bao is the most senior mainland official jailed over the Tiananmen protests. He said he was “100 per cent certain” the voice on an audio recording was Zhao’s after being given earphones to listen to excerpts during an interview at a Beijing hotel restaurant where he had been followed by plain-clothes police.
Zhao had been accused of splitting the party for challenging the decision of then-paramount leader Deng Xiaoping to send in troops to crush the pro-democracy protests centred on Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Zhao died in 2005 after more than 15 years under house arrest.
Asked if Zhao’s memoirs could split the party again, Mr. Bao was adamant: “No.”
While China has changed dramatically since 1989, with most people on the mainland richer and freer, Tiananmen is still taboo and the authorities are expected to ban Zhao’s memoirs.
“It will not be circulated widely,” Mr. Bao said. Zhao’s family declined requests for interviews.
The memoirs come during a sensitive year, when the party must navigate through potentially volatile anniversaries, including the June 4 anniversary of the crackdown and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, while coping with a slowing economy and rising unemployment.
Mr. Bao was once a political high-flier, and as secretary to the party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee held a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister. Now he is a thorn in the government’s side and is under surveillance around the clock.
“If the party wants to survive long-term and in accordance with the law, it will have to respect the law,” Mr. Bao said. “If they don’t, they will make the same mistakes they did on June 4.”
What they say
I think [Zhao’s memoirs] will cause [Communist] Party members to reflect deeply. I think it’s possible senior leaders will read this book. It will give them a lot to think about, and cause them to think about the party’s basic survival. If the party wants to survive in the long term and in accordance with the law, it will have to respect the law ... If they don’t, they will make the same mistakes they did on June 4
Bao Tong , former aide to Zhao Ziyang
[Zhao] did not leave instructions ... but clearly he wanted his story to survive when he was recording the tapes. He believed his valuable memories will fill in the blanks in this crucial period of China’s modern history, which the Communist Party has tried to erase. My father was always talking with him ... but translating Zhao’s memoirs has really helped me understand him. It’s my duty to do the translation
Bao Pu, Bao Tong’s son, who translated Zhao’s memoirs into English
I am expecting the memoirs to vividly describe details of political struggles, policies made by Zhao, Deng Xiaoping and other top leaders who played most important roles in modern China. I think the question of whether western democracy can be a solution to China’s political reforms will once again be debated among the Chinese once this book is published
Wuer Kaixi, former student leader of the 1989 pro-democracy movement
The book will prove eye-catching because it reveals so many inside stories about China’s top leaders. I believe the book will force people the world over, especially the China hands in western countries, to reassess Deng Xiaoping because at this stage even some US politicians have praised Deng as the greatest contributor to the success of China’s economic reforms. The impact of the book on the public will be much greater than among leadership circles because most Chinese officials focus on only economic, not political, reforms. But I think the book might encourage today’s Chinese youth to learn about Zhao and the 1989 Tiananmen massacre
Paul Lin, a Taipei-based political commentator who taught Communist Party history on the mainland from 1955 to 1976
I doubt Zhao’s memoirs would directly impact Chinese decision-makers because there is no possibility of a Zhao Ziyang faction existing that inherited his ideas about political reform. But Zhao’s open mind has influenced many intellectuals, so the book will have an indirect influence over young politicians who want to do something to solve the problems China is facing now
Poon Siu-to, Hong Kong-based political commentator
I hope Zhao’s memoirs will push the Beijing leadership to readdress the June 4 incident as soon as possible because it is a political wound for the Communist Party, like the Cultural Revolution. Zhao’s impact is still felt, and he told us only redress could bring us a truly stable society
Allen Lee Peng-fei, veteran Hong Kong politician and former National People’s Congress delegate
I am very glad to hear about the publication of Zhao’s memoirs. It is really good news as its publication did not come easily
Ding Zilin , founder of Tiananmen Mothers
The book will shock the world not only because of Zhao’s influence, but also the impact of the June 4 incident. The timing of the publication is very good as this year is the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre. The memoirs will be much more popular than the book, Zhao Ziyang: Captive Conversations, released in 2007, because his ideas on political reform are much more mature and comprehensive
Johnny Lau Yui-siu, Hong Kong-based political commentator
Minnie Chan and Reuters
Post a Comment