Congress ‘Expresses Concern’ Over Dongzhou Massacre

My informed source has asked me not to reveal any further information about where this originates, but the bipartisan support is very encouraging. All emphasis is my own.

His Excellency
Zhou Wenzhong
Ambassador
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

We are writing to you to express our deep concern over news reports regarding the December 6th incident; that is, the lethal assault last week on peaceful protestors by Chinese paramilitary forces in the village of Dongzhou in Guangdong Province. A report carried in The New York Times on December 10th indicates that “as many as 20 residents of Dongzhou were shot and killed by security forces on Tuesday night as they protested plans for a power plant, in the deadliest use of force by Chinese authorities against ordinary citizens since the Tiananmen massacre in 1989.”

Mr. Ambassador, as you are aware, there is an ongoing debate both inside the U.S. Congress and throughout the United States over how to address the issue of a rising China and over whether or not the People’s Republic of China is ready to become a responsible stakeholder in the international community of nations. The tragic killings of innocent protestors at Dongzhou, reminiscent to Americans of the Boston Massacre of 1770, have been followed, according to news reports, by an official campaign to cover up the events. While the commanding officer on the scene of the December 6th incident has reportedly been placed in detention, local authorities are carrying out extensive surveillance of victims’ families, bodies of victims have reportedly been thrown into the sea, and there is an ongoing round-up of villagers labeled as “instigators.” This is a classic “blame the victim” approach to what is, in reality, a national tragedy for China and its people. It also indicates that the bloody legacy of the Tiananmen Massacre has yet to be fully comprehended. It appears in today’s China, all political power continues to come from the barrel of a gun rather than through the rule of law.

Please advise your government, Mr. Ambassador, that such incidents as those which took place in Dongzhou adversely affect China’s image in the world and have a serious negative impact on Congressional views regarding engagement with China. As we celebrate this season of peace before the New Year, we offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the shooting in the December 6th incident and offer the hope that the people of China will soon be served by a government worthy of China’s great historic and cultural tradition.

His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong
December 15, 2005
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HENRY J HYDE
Chairman
Committee on International Relations

NANCY PELOSI
Minority Leader

CHRISTOPHER SMITH
Member of Congres

ROBERT E. ANDREWS
Member of Congress s

DAN BURTON
Member of Congress

ENI FALEOMAVAEGA
Member of Congress

DANA ROHRABACHER
Member of Congress

STEVE CHABOT
Member of Congress

cc. The Honourable John Bruton, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the United States