People of the greater New York area and Zhao Ziyang’s friends decided to hold a public memorial ceremony on January 22 from 1 to 3 pm in front of the Sheraton hotel. The Epoch Times reporter, Xin Fei, interviewed the committee director, Mr. Chen Yizi.

Chen Yizi was once the economic restructuring research institute manager of the Chinese State Council and Zhao Ziyang’s brain trust. In June 1989, the CCP used armed suppression on the student democratic movement in Beijing, forced Zhao Ziyang to leave office, and issued a warrant for the arrest of Chen Yizi. He was one of the high-ranking CCP officials forced into exile overseas, and is currently responsible for the inner work of the Center for Modern China in New York.

Interviewer: Greetings, Mr. Chen. Is it true that the Metropolitan New York area is planning on holding a public memorial ceremony conference for Mr. Zhao Ziyang?

Mr. Chen Yizi: Yesterday, we sent out the announcement that says people of the Metropolitan New York area wish to hold a public memorial ceremony for Zhao Ziyang. On January 21, we had a press meeting to brief the situation of our conference.

Interviewer: Can you talk about why you want to hold this ceremony?

Chen: Since Zhao Ziyang’s death due to illness, people who know his great contributions to China’s opening up and reforms are all deeply sorrowful. One reason is that during the 80’s, whether it was reform in the countryside, economy, politics, opening up of China, or other aspects, he gave indelible contributions. In addition, he contributed significantly to the economic boom China later experienced. He also fostered active enlightened political thinking and improved civilians’ living conditions.

Everyone reveres him, more importantly because in 1989, he did not want the guns to be pointed at students and civilians. Everyone felt he exhibited a type of high morality and principle. When he was put under house arrest, he faced the might, without making self-criticism, and not giving thought to his or his family’s sacrifice. This was the character of ancient Chinese scholars and reflected an ever-present moral conscience that people admire.

At the same time, everyone feels regret that he passed away under 15 years of house arrest without a trial or conviction and his goals were not yet achieved.

Of course, everyone has discussed a lot over the Internet and expressed many views. Originally, everyone thought this issue should be left for the Hu-Wen leadership since it is an unavoidable challenge for those in power to handle. If they can handle it well, it will lead to a favorable turn for China.

Zhao Ziyang (John Giannini/AFP/Getty Images)

People don’t hold high hopes, but they hope Zhao Ziyang can be fairly appraised, especially for his great contributions to China’s reform and opening up policies. However, the June 4th incident can’t be solved in a short period of time and Hu Jintao doesn’t have this ability. The people don’t hold high hopes, but they feel that a memorial service for such a great contributor should be held.

However, up till now, not only is there no service of this kind, but we all talk in secret about how disappointing the CCP is. Moreover, from the development of the current situation, people feel that if China continues to behave like this, it can turn into a manifestation of fascism, which is extremely dangerous.

For instance, we heard media reports from various countries that Bao Tong wanted to go to the memorial service, but he was taken back by plainclothes police and his wife was beaten to the point of broken ribs, but they still wouldn’t let him go. So he wrote “Bao Tong would respect Zhao Ziyang for eternity, January 18, 2005” for the memorial service and passed it overseas through his friends. On the surface, it seems that the Zhao children opened the memorial hall for the public, but many people who the police think are dangerous or susceptible are not allowed to enter. After restrictions were lessened a bit, more and more people went, but there appear more and more plainclothes police by the entrance. Everyone who enters must show his or her identification card, and it is even checked for those just dropping off wreathes. The strange thing is that the flower store next to Zhao’s residence did not send any flowers. Despite that, many people have delivered many flowers. Many people also requested to hold ceremonies to mourn for Zhao, but not only does the public security not allow that, they also seized those people.

I heard that people everywhere are scolding the CCP officials with swear words. Some elders who also contributed to reform policies including Li Rui, Hu Jiwei, Li Pu, Du Run are feeling humiliated for Zhao Ziyang’s unfair treatment. Others believe the CCP has reached to this stage because those great contributors of the past become so weak and afraid when facing Hu Wen’s higher authority, this causes people to become indignant when they hear that.

Moreover, in the national media, they say Bao Tong is allowed to attend the ceremony, but I heard that the ceremonial attendees were picked a long time ago, they didn’t converse and just filed in one after another. Everyone was sent by companies and had the companies testify, under such circumstances, how can people sincerely respect and revere Zhao Ziyang?

All universities were under strict control and Internet communication was completely cut off. It is like a police state and depriving people of basic rights, which is fascist in nature. Some may say it is going beyond Hitler’s fascism.

Therefore, under these circumstances, we, overseas Chinese and people with a sense of justice, should give our heart to someone who has contributed so much.

Certainly after many years, oversea Chinese have formed so-called “left-center-right” and “red-green-blue,” all with many contradictions. But Zhao Ziyang’s not wanting the gun pointed at the people displayed the morality and character we all mutually respected and admire. We have reached common sense for this matter.

Interviewer: What type of people would participate, people from all walks of life?

Chen Yizi (R) at a Columbia University workshop “Zhao Ziyang and China’s Reform.” with Meng Xuan (L), Yan Jiaqi (C)

Chen: In New York, it’s been primarily the overseas Chinese and educational world that have organized the memorial ceremony committee. Currently, there are over 110 members of the committee and there are people unceasingly requesting to join. The committee now includes the educational world, artistic circles, the literary world, the legal world, the business circle, the religious circles, the civil transport, and several of Zhao Ziyang’s old department members as well as people who also worked in the 80s, therefore we hope the ceremony can run very well.

This ceremony is about respecting Zhao Ziyang’s character and morals, and it can break all boundaries and allow people to come together and express our heartfelt aspiration.
Representatives and celebrities from all walks of life will participate, for example, in our committee, there are famous people of the educational world including those who can’t walk, they all want to be committee members. Qiu Hongda, Tang Degang, Si Malu, Xia Zhiqing, Hu Changdu, Ma Daren, Yang Liyu, Hong Chaohui, Yin Zunsheng, Wen Guanzhong, Hu Ping, Xin Haonian, Tong Huizhen, Chen An, Chen Kouwen, Xia Ming, Wang An, Lin Peirui, Ma Ding, Xuan Shuzheng, Liu Guokai, Chen Jinsong, He Pin, Meng Xuan, Kong Jie and others who are 52 well known people in the educational world. Fishing rights federation association president Chen Xianzhong, Chinese development foundation CEO Xiong Yuanjian, World Daily Newspaper vice-chairman Ma Keren, Foreign National Sound broadcasting station manager Xue Chunyang, Wei Bizhou, Chinese human rights President Liu Qing, Fan Yangsheng, Zheng Wenying, Li Yong, Ma Peihua, Hong Zhesheng, Huang Zaitian, Li Chunxi, from Guo Zhilong, Wang Hanwang, Liu Gang, Li Lu, Li Qiang, Sun Zhongxiong, Li Jinjin, over 41 overseas circles celebrities, Wang Juntao, Xue Wei, Ni Yuxian, Su shuiliang, Song shuyuan, Lu Jinghua, Tang Boqiao, Xing Dakun, civil transport public figures and Tang Yuanjun, people who worked with Zhao in the 80's, me, Yan Jiaqi, Su Shaozhi, Liu Binyan, Ge Yang, Ruan Ming, Gao Wenqian, Cheng Xiaonong, etc.

Interviewer: What’s the general procedure of the memorial service?

Chen: Zhao’s memorial service is from 1 to 3 p.m. A symposium about Zhao Ziyang is from 3 to 5 p.m.
The Metropolitan New York area public memorial ceremony will have Bao Tong’s message “Respect Zhao Ziyang for eternity, January 18, 2005” on the first wreath to the left. It’s a tragedy Bao Tong can’t be here to personally lay down the wreath for Zhao Ziyang.

The first part is for the public ceremony, and then I, as the committee director, will deliver a speech. Then New York Congressman Mr. Meng Guangrui and New York Congressman Mr. Liu Chunyi, who had been a Chinese congressman for a couple of years, will give speeches. After that, speeches will be given by friends and family, then the academic and cultural circles, and the conference will end with speeches from society’s prominent personages. We will publish an “Inform Global Chinese people book” directed by Chen Xianzhong.

Then from 3:30 to 5 p.m., there will be a Zhao Ziyang symposium hosted by Mr. Yan Jiaqi, the political science manager of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Yang Liyu’s main speech will be followed by speeches from 8-9 specialists. It will end with questions and answers; this is the general sequence.

Interviewer: What are the effects and goals you hope to achieve?

Chen: Of course, we hope to achieve the following objectives:
1. Let people know Zhao Ziyang’s achievement and contributions for China
2. Let people understand his high moral character and integrity
3. Allow more people to participate in mourning for Zhao, and hope Zhao’s death can bring a new turning point for Chinese people, and cause everyone to contribute more for China’s future, for the economy, and for democracy.
4. Hope the CCP will hold a memorial ceremony for Zhao and give him a fair appraisal and to not behave in a Fascist, barbaric, and mafia-like way of treating activities of mourning for Zhao.
5. Hope every overseas country and region, when mourning for Zhao, this talented son of China, will not be divided, but mourn in a unified spirit.

Interviewer: How do you think the international society will react? What will happen if the CCP doesn’t hold a memorial ceremony?

Chen: The international society will take note of this situation. The Japanese prime minister, an American spokesperson, and even the White House have issued statements. Recently, the chairman of the House international relations committee specially wrote a letter to Zhao’s family. I noticed today that Canada also issued a statement. I believe more and more of the international society will issue statements, because under Zhao’s directing, China made a tremendous progress and established good relationship with several countries.

Anyone with a conscience would not write off Zhao’s merit and hard work, only someone looking out for his own privileges and benefits would do that.

If the CCP can’t make the corresponding decision, not only would they shame our generation but also ruin the Chinese tradition of holding a memorial ceremony for an elder who died of illness. They would even shame their own CCP tradition because Chairman Mao said in “Serving the people” that “Memorial ceremonies must be held for all office workers who die,” in the past, the CCP said offenders would even get a memorial service, and what crime did Zhao Ziyang commit? If they don’t have the service, people’s hearts will be unsettled. Moreover, they will lose face in the international society and cause the people to greatly question Hu Jintao. Does Hu actually desire to pursue dictatorship and become a historical criminal or lead Chinese people towards modernization? This has become a serious question in people’s minds.