USA: EVIDENCE OF CHINESE MILITARY VIOLENCE IN TIANANMEN SQUARE
(18 Dec 1996) English/Nat Witnesses have been giving graphic evidence Wednesday about the Chinese military crackdown in Tiananmen Square in 1989. The Congressional hearing in Washington was organised after a top Chinese military general played down the extent of the violence. During a visit to Washington DC last week, General Chi Haotian said no one was killed at Tiananmen Square. General Chi Haotian was given a formal welcome at the Pentagon during his visit last week -- including full military honours including a 19-gun salute. It was, in fact Chi who was the operational commander of forces that attacked pro- democracy demonstrators at Tiananmen Square over seven years ago. Several days ago, he stunned the world by saying no one died at Tiananmen Square -- a statement that has resulted in the organisation of Wednesday's Congressional hearing. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I ask our witnesses to assess the effect of General Chi's visit. What did we learn from this experience and, perhaps what has the General learned? Is it possible that Beijing will learn that dealing with America that honesty is the best policy, or is it possible the United States government will finally learn that a government that murders its own people and then lies about it cannot be trusted as a treaty partner or a trading partner." SUPER CAPTION: Congressman Christopher Smith, Chairman of U-S House Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights The panel of speakers witnessed the Tiananmen Square Massacre. They claim General Chi's statement -- that the massacre is a myth -- is a lie. SOUNDBITE: (English) "There were killings. There were hundreds of people died. I knew it. I visited those families and I also witnessed those bullet holes." SUPER CAPTION: Xiao Qiang, Executive Director of Human Rights in China One man spoke about the scene after the tanks had crushed people at Tiananmen Square. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I got a good look at them. They were flat. Their bodies were all bloody. Their mouths were pressed into long shapes." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Jian-Li Yang, Vice President of Alliance for a Democratic China A Doctor produced a photo he took after the massacre. It's a close-up of a man brutally beaten to death. SOUNDBITE: (English) "This is a photo taken right at a spot." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Jian-Li Yang Like the others that testified, Dr. Jian-Li Yang called on the U-S government to punish those responsible for the massacre. He said General Chi's visit to America had raised some questions, and has definitely brought the issue of the 1989 massacre back into the limelight. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Chairman. History has warnings. I strongly urge you to heed these warnings. And chart a new course for China-American relations based on reality." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Jian-Li Yang The House Subcommittee plans to continue the hearings early next year. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
