Monday, May 25, 2009

Prisoner of the State: The Book

Zhao Ziyang, the architect of modern Chinese Capitalism and modernization who fell from power in China by trying to prevent the massacre at Tiananmen square in China spent the last 16 years of his life after the 1989 Tiananmen democracy demonstrations and massacre under house arrest. Still he managed to smuggle out of China his book journal on cassette tapes by covering over musical cassettes with his verbal journal and penciling in lightly a number on each cassette through some of his friends and supporters. It is just now being printed in English and other languages for all to read. My source for this information is the latest Time magazine 5-28-09, on page 28 in an article by Adi Ignatius At the top of page 28 it says Tiananmen Ghosts.

Begin quote: At the end of his journal, Zhao concludes that China must become a parliamentary democracy to meet the challenges of the modern wrold---a remarkable observation from someone who spent his entire career in service to the Communist Party, And onethat might well provoke a debate on Chinas Internet discussion boards and in it's chat rooms. Zhao's ultimate aim was a strong economy, but he had become convinced that his goal was inextricably linked to the development of democracy. China's ability to avoid another tragedy like Tiananmen might depend on how quickly that comes about. end quote

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