"Democracy can become a reality with a strong civil society"

Paris (AsiaNews) - "To stand by powerlessly and see scores of young people massacred before my eyes by machine-guns was the worst experience of my life", this is how Cai Chonguo, age 49, remembers the night of June 4th, 1989, when army tanks arrived in Tiananmen Square.  In the days following the massacre, Cai, then a university student, went into hiding.  A few months later, he managed to escape to Hong Kong.  Today he lives exiled in Paris, and works for the China Labour Bulletin, an on-line pubblication that chronicles current labour issues in China.  The China Labour Bulletin is run by Han Dongfan, the founder of China's first independent union.  Because of the imminent visit of U.S. President Bush, France has prohibited outdoor rallies, including those for Tiananmen.  Gatherings are however allowed indoors.  For this reason, Cai has organized an event at the Trocadero, which includes a photo exhibition to commemorate the massacre. What has changed in China from 1989 to today? In 1989, intellectuals and students were calling for democracy.  Today in China, intellectuals and students have become more . . . conservative.  People, even the intellectuals, are worried about how to get by, there's a lot of unemployment.  Students as well are worried about their future.  Today, however, there are labourers and farmers who are calling for their rights.  Not simply democracy and freedom.  They are also calling for work, pay, fair treatment, the chance to organize unions and independent associations, to send their children to school. . . . China is perhaps rich, but there are many needs still to be met and the battle lines for human rights have expanded.  Not a day passes without a demonstration occuring along these lines. The government of China continues to claim that the massacre was a necessary evil: it guaranteed social stability and brought about today's well-being. I find that absurd.  It would be like saying that after World War II, Italy's economic growth came about thanks to the Nazis and Mussolini!  There could have been economic growth even without the massacre at Tiananmen.  In fact, we could have had both economic and political reforms which would have meant today a much more balanced economic development and a more just society. In any case, democracy is the dream of everyone in China.  Even the ruling classes continue to say that one day the country will have democracy, even if not immediately. Will it be possible to evolve toward democracy peacefully? It is much more difficult today than in 1989.  Then, if the government had agreed to negociate with the students, democracy would have little by little spread in the cities and in the countryside.  But the government closed in on itself and failed to trust its own citizens. Why is the government so opposed to democracy?  It is often said that democracy is a "Western dream" not an Asian one. . . The problem is that the Chinese government monopolizes power.  So far, it has not found a way to use dialogue as an instrument for change.  Beijing thinks that dialogue is only a loss of power. Many dissidents from 1989, like you, took refuge abroad.  How many of them are still working for democracy in China? Most have abandoned political activism.  They did a lot of good work in the past but, naturally, many today worry for their life and the life of their family members in China.  They fear that their activism might create problems for their loved ones left in the Popular Republic. And you?  Do you have relatives in China?  Do you fear for them? My father died two years ago.  My mother is there and often I fear for her.  Last week 4 policemen called on her and threatened her. What makes you hopeful? I'm full of hope: both the central and local governments are finding it more and more difficult to control the situation.  This is why Beijing is delegating more and more the management of crises to local governments,  who in turn have greater opportunities for dialogue with protesters, with those who want their rights respected.  This is why I am very hopeful for the democratization of China.  The main urgency is not, however, political democracy.  What is needed is the development of social democracy, the birth of civil society with autonomous and independent associations that enjoy freedom of expression.

• china
• tiananmen
• massacre
• human
• rights
• democracy