RIC Query - China (15 May 2001)

China

Query:

Applicant is a (former) PLA Lt. Col. who claims he organized pro- democracy demonstrations in Kunming (capital of Yunnan Province) on May 25 and May 28, 1989, one with 6000 and the other with 2000 participants. Were there demonstrations in Kunming on these dates? Also, were PLA officers involved in orchestrating pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989? Also, please provide information on the Chinese language newspaper published in Bangkok entitled Daily Universal News.

Response:

Searches of Westlaw, NEXIS, and Keesings Record of World Events did not reveal information on demonstrations in Kunming on May 25, 1989, or May 28, 1989; however, there were demonstrations in Kunming on or around May 18, 1989. Please refer to the attached news articles for information on these demonstrations.

For information on the Chinese government's treatment of PLA members and officers who participated in the pro-democracy movement of 1989, please see the attached news articles on the subject and Canadian DIRB REFINFO response CHN8002, as reported in REFWORLD.

The pro-Taiwan Universal Daily News is based in Bangkok. The newspaper is one in a family of Chinese-language publications whose flagship is the United Daily News. The general-interest United Daily News competes with the China Times to dominate Taiwan's Chinese- language newspaper market (Government Information Office No date).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RIC within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References:

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 15 June 1989. "Yunnan 'Illegal' Residents' Group Banned.'' (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 26 May 1989. "Yunnan Students Demonstrate Speech by Provincial Government Leader." (NEXIS)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE. 18 April 1989. "China's Defense Minister Detained in Military Power Struggle." (WESTLAW)

Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Ottawa. RESPONSE TO INFORMATION REQUEST CHN8002. (REFWORLD)

Government Information Office. No date. "Print Media: Representative Publications." URL: www.gio.gov.tw/info/book2000/ch16_1.htm [Accessed on 11 May 2001].

Kyodo News Service. 18 January 1990. "China Reportedly Punishes Officers for Refusal to Crush Protest." (NEXIS)

LOS ANGELES TIMES. 18 May 1989. David Holley. "Gorbachev in China: The Communist Summit; Massive Beijing Protest Demands Leaders Quit; Students Want Deng, Premier to Resign; Marches in 24 Cities." (NEXIS)

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH. 4 March 1990. "Lessons in Loyalty for Chinese Army." (NEXIS)

WASHINGTON TIMES. 22 March 1990. Jonathan Sikes. "Pitted Against People, Chinese Soldiers Bitter." (NEXIS)

Xinhua. 17 May 1989. "Nation-wide Support to Beijing Students on Hunger Strike." (NEXIS)

Attachments:

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 15 June 1989. "Yunnan 'Illegal' Residents' Group Banned.'' (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 26 May 1989. "Yunnan Students Demonstrate Speech by Provincial Government Leader." (NEXIS)

Kyodo News Service. 18 January 1990. "China Reportedly Punishes Officers for Refusal to Crush Protest." (NEXIS)

LOS ANGELES TIMES. 18 May 1989. David Holley. "Gorbachev in China: The Communist Summit; Massive Beijing Protest Demands Leaders Quit; Students Want Deng, Premier to Resign; Marches in 24 Cities." (NEXIS)

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH. 4 March 1990. "Lessons in Loyalty for Chinese Army." (NEXIS)

WASHINGTON TIMES. 22 March 1990. Jonathan Sikes. "Pitted Against People, Chinese Soldiers Bitter." (NEXIS)

Xinhua. 17 May 1989. "Nation-wide Support to Beijing Students on Hunger Strike." (NEXIS)