From: s9874194@phobos.ucc.umass.edu (s9874194)
Subject: Re: What Should We Do To Help Shen Tong?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 20:30:00 GMT

In article <BtyHpK.69y@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, xlli@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (xiao-lin li) writes...
> 
>Is Shen Tong guilty? I think he is not. How about you?
> 
>How to explain his arrest? What can we do to help him?
> 
>If Shen Tong is guilty for organizing Democratic Fund
>in Beijing and that is guilty, what about LYH in American?
>They are serving the communist government to do propaganda
>too. Should LYH leaders be arrested because of that?
> 
>It casts a real doubt about the Chinese government on their
>recent leniency gesture to the oversea Chinese students
>and community. 
> 
>Can we have some discussion about the difference between
>Shen Tong's activity and the activities of LYH in American.
>We must have some logical and equal basis in order to justify
>that help to Shen Tong is legitimate. In the meanwhile,
>if Shen Tong is still held, we can lobby the local community
>to revenge by "arresting" these LYH leaders.
> 
>If LYH leaders believe they have their right to do what
>they want to do in America, they should also help to rescue
>Shen Tong and others.
> 
>Xiao Li

Hello, Xiao Li.

The answer to your first question is that I do not believe Shen is
guilty according to the moral standard we are standing on. However,
according to the constitution of China, "counterrevolution propaganda"
is a crime. But accordingto the law in the US, communist propaganda
is not a crime. So, in pure legalistic term, Chinese government does
have the authority to arrest Shen while American government can do
to stop anyone for communist propaganda. (Please, this is based on
purely legalistic term, not saying I agree with the arrest.)

Shen's returning home happened just around the publishing of the 
"State Council Document 44". It is very very embarrassing for the
government. I believed that if Shen was just visit home quietly
without any "counterrevolutionary activity", he probably would
be all right. (This is just my GUESS.) That is why the government
waited about a month and finally arrest him before the scheduled
news conference. (according to the news sources in the US) The govern-
ment could still well say that unless you still involved in 
"counterrevolutionary activity", you will be safe and freely
go back home and coming to the US. And I believe it will still be the
case for most of the CSS.

Now the question is how we could help Shen. It is very tricky. 
If the pressure is too hard, it may back fire and the hardliners
may grasp it as a "Jiu4 Ming4 Dao4 Cao3". If we do not put any
pressure, then we will be apathy and helpless. IFCSS just issued
a statement I think was about right. Requesting Shen's safe return
to the US would not be too much for the government. I guess that
this would be the best solution. I personally do not have any
better idea. If somebody in this group knows anybody in the CCP
HQ, please tell them that by issuing an anouncment to "condemn"
what Shen did while he was in China and "condone" him so he could
coming back the US to continue his study would be a better solution
to save face and effectively through the problem out.

BTW, forgive me if you think I am stupid but can you explain to me
what LYH stands for? Thank you very much.

c.q.