Date of letter:1992-10-18
Address of author:Jilin City, Jilin Province
Date of event:Not mentioned
Location of event:Not mentioned
Name of author:Li Haiqing
Name(s) of victim(s):Li Jingyu (Li Haiqing’s uncle)
Type of atrocity:Slave Laborers（SL)
Other details:When the Japanese invaded the Jilin Province, they conscripted labor everywhere, causing the deaths of many people. Li Haiqing’s uncle Li Jingyu was one of the Slave Laborerss who died in Heilongjiang.
Comrade Tong Zeng:
Hello!
Seeing your handwriting is like seeing you face to face. When hearing of your public request to demand persecution compensation from the Japanese government, I felt much encouraged, and deeply appreciate your righteous action for representing the heartfelt wish of a large number of our compatriots. Consequently, I believe this lawful demand will surely be fulfilled by you. As a Chinese citizen, I firmly support your demand.
Looking back to the past years, the war waged by Japanese invaders against China brought unprecedented catastrophe to the Chinese people. Several million Chinese people sacrificed their lives in the war, and several dozen million compatriots were heavily hurt and wounded, and innumerous compatriots died in the hands of the invaders. When recollecting all these, we would all the more love the Communist Party, love the New China, and love the great Chinese people. Comrade Tong Zeng, your demand for compensation by the Japanese government on behalf of Chinese nationals also fully reflects the fact that the Chinese people has sufficient lawful rights and interests. Meanwhile, I also request to join your rank, and I would like to suggest to relevant departments of the Chinese government to propose damage compensation toward the Japanese government and the Emperor of Japan.
My hometown is on the bank of the Songhua River, and I live in Fengman District, Jilin City. In the city, during the Japanese control period, in order to build Fengman Power Station, Japanese invaders conscripted labor everywhere, causing the death of numerous compatriots. Today, heaps of white bones at the Museum of Compatriotism Education provide ample evidence of this segment of horrible history.
According to my father, back then the Japanese invaders not at all treated Chinese workers as human; for example, my uncle Li Jingyu was forced to be conscripted by the invaders in Fanjiatun, Jilin Province; as a laborer, he never returned and died in Hulin, Heilongjiang Province. Because of this, my grandmother cried till both eyes were blind. Bloody facts for ever educate us, and inspire several generations in our family to all the more love the New China.
Today, under the cultivation of the Communist Party of China, I finished education, and became an official. Currently I worked as director of a machine-made brick factory. This is a thing that would never occur to my father in the Old China. Since the Party and the party organization trust me, I need to work harder, and duly make my contribution to the rejuvenation of the Chinese people.
Finally, I wish all the best to you and people who follow you in your quest for justice. I look forward to receiving your reply, through which you can tell me details of your demand for compensation from the Japanese government, and I will surely pay a visit to you whenever I have the chance.
Wish you all the best!
Li Haiqing
Jilin Chemical Industrial Corporation Shijinggou Lianhua Machine-made Brick Factory
October 18, 1992
