Newsgroups: uw.chinese
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watdragon!jshen
From: Bo Chi <chi@vlsi>
Subject:      FCSSC News Release
Message-ID: <9102131756.AA22436@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Sender: jshen@watdragon
Reply-To: "China News (Canada)" <CNC-L@UVVM.BITNET>
Organization: University of Waterloo
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Date:         Wed, 13 Feb 91 12:37:32 EST
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 ********************************************************************
 # FCSSC News Release No. 02-036              February 11, 1991     #
 #                                                                  #
 #       m"m          D             mm"  "m"  ""D  mmmmmmm m"m m"m  #
 #     m"   "m     mmmDmmmm  mmmmm  D""" D D """D   D   D  "D" "D"  #
 #   m"       "m      D   D  D   D  D""" m"m """D   D"""D mDmD DmDm #
 # n" mmmmmmmmm "m    D   D  D   D D"""""""""""""D  DmmmD mmmD Dmmm #
 #        D           D   D  D   D "   """""D"  "   D   D D  D D  D #
 #    mmmmDmmmm      D    D  D   D        "D        DmmmD"DmmD D  D #
 #        D         m"   m"  DmmmD  """""""D"""""  ""   D "  D D""  #
 #  mmmmmmDmmmmmm  m"  mm"   "   "       "mD            D  m"  D    #
 #                                                                  #
 #==================================================================#
 #  From: FCSSC Liaison Office  Email: Andyshi@Meena.CC.URegina.ca  #
 #******************************************************************#

Table of Contents

=====================================================================
1. Best Wishes for a Happy Chinese New Year from FCSSC
2. Chinese Diplomats Comment on Trials at Home
3. FCSSC and Readers' Comments on Drake's viewpoints
4. Slow Changes Coming to China, Diplomat Says
=====================================================================

1. Best Wishes for a Happy Chinese New Year
   From: FCSSC Executive Committee

            \|/                     \|/                     \|/
           --O--                   --O--                   --O--
            /|\       HAPPY         /|\       HAPPY         /|\
           //|\\                   //|\\                   //|\\
          ///|\\\    NEW YEAR     ///|\\\    NEW YEAR     ///|\\\
         ////|\\\\               ////|\\\\               ////|\\\\
        /////|\\\\\    !!!      /////|\\\\\    !!!      /////|\\\\\
        0 0 ||| 0 0             0 0 ||| 0 0             0 0 ||| 0 0
          __|||__                 __|||__                 __|||__
__________[_____]_________________[_____]_________________[_____]_________

      O      O       O               O     O          OOOOOOOO       !!!!
   OOOOOO OOO       OOOOOOOO         O     O         O   O          !!!!!!
    O  O  O        O    O          O O   OOOOO       O   O          !!!!!!
   OOOOOO OOOOO      OOOOOOO       OOOO    O O      OOOOOOOOOO       !!!!
      O   O O        O  O          O O  OOOOOOO          O            !!
   OOOOOO O O      OOOOOOOOOO        O     O          O  O O
    O O O O O           O            O    O O        O   O  O         !!
    O O O O O           O            O   O   O      O   OO   O        !!

       _    ,     *                _ __              _    ,
      ' )  /                      ' )  )            ' )  /     *
       /--/ __.  _   _   __  ,     /  / _  , , ,     /  / _  __.  __
      /  (_(_/|_/_)_/_)_/ (_/_    /  (_(/_(_(_/_    (__/_</_(_/(_/ (_
               /   /       /                         //
              '   '      ('             *           (/


Hello! Dear Fellow Students and Scholars,

     In a few days time, it will be our traditional Chinese New Year!

     On this festive occasion, we would like to extend our most cordial
congratulations to each and every one of you. We wish you a happy and
safe New Year and every success in your future endeavors!

     On this annual occasion, we would like to thank all of you for your
valuable support of our work in the past year. Without that, our work
would have been very difficult. May our good cooperation continue for
ever!

     On this special occasion, we would also like to remind you of those
at home who are unable to have a happy New Year as we are here. Please
pay a few moments of your mind at the New Year time to those agonized,
to our people and our nation.

        Once again, Happy New Year and Great Fortune


      $     $               $            $$$$$$$ $$$$     $$$$$$$      $
   $$$$$$$$$$$$$       $$$$$$$$$$$            $$          $     $      $
      $     $               $                $  $  $      $  $  $ $$$$$$$$
  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$       $$$$$$$$$       $   $    $$       $  $  $     $$
     $       $          $$$$$$$$$        $ $  $ $ $  $    $  $  $    $ $
    $    $    $         $       $         $ $$$$$$ $$     $  $  $   $  $
   $     $     $      $ $$$$$$$$$ $      $  $ $ $   $     $  $  $  $   $
  $   $  $ $    $   $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$   $   $$$$$$$  $    $  $  $ $    $
      $  $ $ $          $$$$$$$$$      $      $ $ $   $     $ $        $
     $   $ $ $          $       $           $$$$$$$        $   $       $
       $$$              $$$$$$$$$            $   $        $     $    $$$



=========================================================================
2. Chinese Diplomats Comment on Trials at Home
   From: Liu Dong, IN%"Bing_Wen@carleton.ca"

     Ottawa (Feb. 9) -- An official from the Chinese Embassy told
a group of Canadian students on Friday that the Chinese government
has been "very lenient" towards the Chinese students who took part
in the 1989 pro-democracy movement.

     "We have released a large number of them. As for the small
number who were tried, the trials are open," Mr.Yang Jinshen, first
secretary of the Chinese Embassy, told the Carleton University's
World Affairs Club.

     The club is going to take part in a mock United Nations debate
at Princeton University next Thursday. About 40 universities from
North America will take part in this annual event. Each university
will represent one country. This year, it is Carleton's turn to
represent China. Mr. Yang and a military attache, identified
himself as Colonel Yu, were invited to brief on China and its
foreign policy.

     Responding to the question of alleged human rights abuses,
Mr.Yang told the group that only a very small number of those who
breached laws were arrested. "And our sentences have been very
lenient, only two to seven years," Mr.Yang said. "Besides, we have
different social values," he added.

     Mr. Yang emphasized the openness of the trials. "Many took
part in the trials, including their family members, friends and
teachers. All are carried out strictly according to Chinese laws."

     Then he was asked to comment on Mr. Jiye Mao's trip to observe
the trials. The question was: since the trials were open, why did
the Chinese government refuse a Chinese student to return to his
own country to observe them?

     The atmosphere of the meeting instantly became tense. With his
head half bending forward, Mr.Yang said: "First of all, Chinese
students studying abroad, I'm not sure whether they know what
happened during the June Fourth in 1989. No government in the world
would tolerate activities aiming at overthrowing it. Secondly,
Chinese students here took part in many anti-government activities
during that period of time. We are very lenient to them. We would
not punish those who went back."

     When asked whether he meant that Mr.Mao's trip was an anti-
government activity, Mr.Yang promptly answered: "I would not say
his trip was anti-government. But a lot of the activities here are
anti-government."

     To conclude on that subject and to drive his point home,
Mr.Yang challenged the audience with this remark: "China needs
stability. If what happened in Eastern Europe happens in China
which has 1.13 billion people, even if the exodus is only one
percent of the population, no country will accept it."

==================================================================
3. FCSSC and Readers' Comments on Drake's Viewpoints

     On Monday, February 4, Vancouver Sun carried an article by
its reporter Moira Farrow on an interview with Earl Drake, former
Canadian ambassador to China. Mr. Drake offered, as reported by
Farrow, a number of professional viewpoints on China's future and
present. He also made some comments on the recent Canadian immigration
policy towards students.

     FCSSC appreciates Mr. Drake's concern about and good will
toward China. Nevertheless, it does not share Mr. Drake's views
on Canada's special immigration measures towards Chinese students
after the June 4 massacre.

     FCSSC believes that the special immigration measures towards
Chinese students were indeed necessary and very humanitarian and
compassionate. The measures have proven very effective in
protecting the Chinese students and their families from their
government's persecution and harrassment, and also in alleviating
Chinese students' deep fear and, therefore, helping them study
normally in Canada. In addition, the fact that thousands of Chinese
students have obtained Canada's protection and chosen to stay in
Canada before they are convinced of safe returns has contributed to
the ``slow changes" in China Mr. Drake referred to in his interview
by the Vancouver Sun.

     FCSSC and its thousands of members are grateful to Canada's
humanitarian considerations. We believe many of us will go back to
serve China once we are certain that political persecution will no
longer be encountered.

     Since Mr. Drake is now an individual researcher and not
representing the Canadian government at the present time, it would
be improper to direct our response to the External Affairs Ministry.
The attempt made by Dr. Dongqing Wei, President of FCSSC, to
clarify this matter through the Vancouver Sun failed due to the lack
of ``man-bites-dogs" effects.

     Attached are some of the readers' comments on this matter.
Further comments are welcome. Please forward your points of views
to china-can@ccu.umanitoba.ca.

                                              Executive Committee
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: IN%"aaa@SSCVAX.CIS.MCMASTER.CA, student in McMaster Univ."
----------------------------------------
     After reading Mr. Drake's whole comments, I feel that he is a
honest and responsible person whom I always respect. I think what
he said was true and was for the best interests of China. If we
just think of our own interests, we can respond and argue. But if
we consider China's future, we shouldn't. If we have to respond, be
honest and be objective.

From: IN%"bbb@AC.DAL.CA, Student in Dal. Univ."
----------------------------
     I think it is necessary to react to the comments from Mr. Drake.
He made two points in his remarks: (1) that so many Chinese students
have decided to stay in Canada is a big brain-drain to China; and
(2) the special PR program has encouraged the Chinese students' PR
applications which are believed by Mr. Drake as more of economic
than political reasons.

     I do agree with the first point. Yet, I found the second issue
which Mr. Drake has raised is most disturbing and deserves a response,
given the fact that he is a high-rank official in the Department of
External Affairs. His remarks depicting Chinese students who have
applied PR status as "economic refugees" are highly inappropriate
and demonstrate the lack of basic understanding, as an ambassador
to China, of the political situation in China where the students
who participated in the democratic movement of 1989 are being put
on trial. Remember that this is not an isolated incident-- there
have been many instances where the necessity of the special PR
program has been questioned and the Chinese students who applied PR
have been explicitly or implicitly described as "economic refugees".

From: IN%"ccc@ubcmtsg.bitnet Student in UBC"
----------------------------------
     I think 1). Mr. Drake has good will for China, and his intention
is in the best interest of China; 2). It is true that there are many PR
applicants are NOTHING BUT ECONOMIC REFUGEES. (We should be honest.)

     Any counter-argument without recognizing these facts are deemed to
be on very shaky grounds, and hard to be convincing.

     However, it does not necessary mean the special PR program bad or
unnecessary. The massive applications in fact was a strike on the CCP at
the time the brutality of the regime needed to be condemned by all means.

     Secondly, it did provide maximum protection for those who really
faced persecution should they had been forced back.

     Finally, it is clear that Chinese students have to keep their mouth
shut and facing political suppression if not persecution, if they go back
now, given the situation in China.

    There are always free-riders to take advantage of any policy. The
merit of the policy should not be judged based on the fact that there
are free-riders.

     Frankly, I belive that policy was made based on economic (gains to
Canada) motivation as well as humanitarian considerations. It is naive to
assume Canadian government did this only to protect the majority of Chinese
students. (They knew as well as we knew that many of them had no danger in
China.)

     My point is we should be honest and appreciate Mr. Drake's concern
for China. Otherwise, we will be looked down upon.

From: ddd@AC.DAL.CA, student in Dal. Univ.
Subject: People Tend to Forget, Very Easily!
--------------------------------------------
     I urge people to recall what it was like immediately after the June 4
of 1989. Many were rounded up and heavily beaten as we had seen on TV.
Those who demonstrated in Canada were also being video-taped or reported
by informants. This was when the special PR program was established and
most of the Chinese students here decided to apply for protection. Was
the special PR program necessary? Had those who applied for PR made the
decision based on economic reasons? It seems to me that people tend to
forget, very easily.

     Most of the activists are now being tried in China. Jiye was not
allowed to enter. I asked myself why the police knew the working units
of Jiye's parents. Was it because Jiye was "registered" in the State
Security Bureau? Is it really safe now for us to return without getting
any trouble?

     This incident reminds me of a bizzare story I heard. One of the
students who came to Canada after June 4 of 1989 said that "of course
you guys demonstrated and made as much noise as you could, you wanted to
stay here." The demonstrations were before the PR program was announced.
So, did we really demonstrate for the PR program?  What a nonsense!

     Mr. Drake's remarks are not his own, indeed. He is reading our minds.
We are not defending what I believe is of principle. Instead, we can only
see the "interests". We are not doing a good job explaining things, but
slapping our own face. What a pity!

=========================================================================
4. Slow Changes Coming to China, Diplomat Says
   By Moira Farrow, The Vancouver Sun, Monday, February 4

     Change is coming to China but it will be slow, undramatic and
totally unlike that in Eastern Europe, says Earl Drake, Canada's former
ambassador to China.

     "The movement for democracy is strong in Beijing but there's little
strong support in the countryside where two-thirds of the population
live," said Drake in a recent Vancouver interview.

     "Country dwellers in China have never been so prosperous before and
they show every sign of being quite content. But intellectuals in China
want change and so does the younger, educated generation."

     Drake, a career diplomat who has served in many countries including
Malaysia, Pakistan and France, left Beijing last October. He is now on
a year's sabbatical leave from the external affairs department and is
a research associate in the David Lam Centre for International Communi-
cation at Simon Fraser University's Harbor Centre.

     He said that when he left, China was quiet and stable on the surface
but "full of tension" underneath.

     "There's a waiting period now, everyone is waiting for the elderly
leaders who are in their 80s to die and then there may be policy changes,"
said Drake.

     "The old leaders are out of touch but those who want reform don't
want to drastic change, they are calling for an end to corruption and
more democracy within the Communist party. This is not like Eastern
Europe."

     He said China has no tradition of democracy and there is no alternative
government waiting in the wings as there was, for example, in Poland.

     Commenting on the recent trials of student leaders who took part in
the 1989 pro-democracy movement, Drake said he would not be surprised if
the Chinese government deliberately scheduled them for a time when the
world's attention was focused on the Middle East.

     "But it's bad public relations," he said. "However, I am glad to see
the trials happening at last and I'm encouraged to see that a judicial
process is being used. Many of these people have been without trials since
June 1989 and so far the sentences have been lenient."

     Drake warned Canadians must not remain frozen in their "June 1989"
attitudes to China because of the Beijing massacre of that time.

     "We have to look at the long term and China is an important country
for Canada," he said. "We must continue our relationship."

     He said Canada's policy after June 1989 "almost encouraged" every
Chinese student here to remain permanently and many of them became
"economic refugees."

     As a result, he said, China lost thousands of its brighted young
people.

     "It was Canada's gain but a terrible loss to China," he said. "Now
that policy of encouraging students to stay here has been corrected.
There are no more special measures for Chinese students here. I do hope
some of them will eventually go back to China because they can do more
for their country there than they can here."

                       (THE END)

------------------------------------------------------------
FCSSC == Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars, Canada
      ==  Quan Jia Xue Lian  (2,1,2,2)    (in Chinese)
------------------------------------------------------------