Date of letter:1993-02-19
Address of author:Wuxue City, Hubei Province
Date of event:1940-03
Location of event:Wuxue City, Hubei Province
Name of author:Feng Xibao and others in the Demanding for Persecution Compensations from Japan group
Name(s) of victim(s):Feng Boyou (Feng Xibao’s father), etc.
Type of atrocity:Air Bombings, Other Massacres, Rapes, Others (AB, OM, RA, OT)
Other details:In March 1940, the Japanese army set out from Wuxue, Hubei and raided the Fengxiu village. 11 villagers were killed, 104 houses were destroyed, and more than 20 women were raped, with property losses totaling $ 212,780. The letter contains a Village Comittee seal for testimony.
Dear Comrade Tong Zeng,
Your letter dated February 13 has been received, thank you!
Recently, I read the “Weekly Digest” published by “Sichuan Daily”, it carried a report written by Yang Liwen published on “Shubao” on January 16, which described how you and your colleagues Chen Jian, Yang Yi, Li Chengyi, Tang Yinmin and others worked selflessly for the sake of pursuing civilian claims. On behalf of the 2215 villagers in my village and myself, we wish to pay sincere respects to you!
Today our village compiled a number of copies of “Letter to Japan for Compensation of Invasion Damage” and “Summary of Claim for Losses Caused by the Japanese Invasion”. Attached are two copies – one for your record, and the other copy for the Japanese Embassy in China. I could not mail the copies directly to the Japanese Embassy as I was unable to find its postal code from the Wuxue post office. Please forward it to the Japanese Embassy on my behalf. (Please find attached postage of 1.00 yuan, please make up any postage shortfall if required.) I know it takes over 4 hours to travel from your home to the Japanese Embassy and return; it would be too troublesome for you to deliver it personally. If you need some materials or formalities in the future, please feel free to write me.
(Please review the letters and books mailed to you and advise any changes as required.)
Best Regards
Feng Xibao, Wuxue City Experimental Primary School
February 19, 1993
Letter to Japan for Compensation of Invasion Damage
On March 26 and 27, 1940, the Japanese Invading Army that occupied Wuxue Town, Guangji County in Hubei Province (now Wuxue City) departed from Wuxue, and marched to Fengxiu Village about 20 li away from Wuxue city center. Fengxiu village had a population of 2200 people. Upon hearing the news of the approaching Japanese army, the residents fled for their lives. The Japanese soldiers attacked aggressively, and fired machine guns randomly. They killed eleven unarmed people in our village with guns and knives, burned and bombed 104 civilian houses (the majority was brick and tile houses with floor boards), and raped over 20 women (some women felt too shamed to tell their names). They robbed and killed 31 cattle, 38 pigs, 21 chicken (piglets and chickens were eaten right away in Fengxiu Village). They robbed 680 silver dollars from Feng Baiyou (equivalent to RMB 13,600 yuan). The total loss brought by the Japanese (including casualties and property losses) amounted to at least USD 212,780. Though the responsibility of this tragic incident was not attributed to the incumbent government of Japan; however, your current government does bear the responsibility and obligation of compensation for the civilian casualties and property losses caused by this invasion – this is an undeniable justice.
On the occasion of establishing diplomatic relation between the People’s Republic of China and Japan, the Chinese government did not raise the issue of war compensation since the focus was more on maintaining a friendly relation between the two countries. The Japanese government should appreciate such consideration by the Chinese government. However the losses resulting from your invasion will never be forgotten by the people of China — our hearts will never be at peace. People is the fundamental element of a country. If the criminal deeds committed against the people are not addressed properly, we will not forgive, despite the good relations between the two countries. There is an old saying in China “Blood debts must be repaid in kind”. The Chinese people in today’s China are reasonable under the government’s leadership and education, so long as your government provides necessary compensation. It will put an end to the trauma suffered during the past invasion period, and it will prompt people of the two countries to share peaceful co-existence in a more friendly way. We, the 2215 villagers, have made one decision: we strongly demand Japan to compensate our civilian losses and to strengthen the friendly relation between our two countries. Today, it has passed for more than 50 years; people’s demand can no longer be delayed. Chairman Mao Zedong once said: “So many deeds need to be done, and always urgently; the world rolls on, time pressed. Ten thousand years are too long, seize the day, and seize the hour. ”
Upon receipt of this letter, please instruct your country’s embassy in China to reply to our team by mail.
Appendix: “Table of Claim for Losses Incurred by the Japanese Invasion Army”
Fengxiu Village Committee, Shifosi Town, Wuxue City, Hubei Province
Wuxue City Shifosi Town Fengxiu Villager Committee (Seal)
Team for Claim of Losses from Japan
(Seal)
February 15, 1993
PS:
1. Our team’s correspondence address: Hubei Province Wuxue City Experimental Primary School Postal code: 36400
2. Our team leader: Feng Xibao, accuser and son of Feng Baiyou who was killed by three gunshots from the Japanese Invading Army
Table of Claim for Losses Incurred by the Japanese Invading Army
Prepared by: Feng Xibao
