Date of Letter:1992-12-10
Address of Author:Beijing City
Date of Event:Not long after the Lugouqiao Incident
Location of Event:Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province
Name of Author:Mi Kangyou
Name(s) of victim(s):Mi Kangyou’s family
Type of atrocity:Murders, Air Bombings, Others, Rapes(RA, MU, AB, OT）
Other Details Shortly after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the warfare expanded to my hometown and I fled with my family. On the way we saw all kinds of horrors: people disembowelled on meat table, women raped, houses burnt, bombs rained from Japanese planes one after another, leaving everywhere piles of corpses. We hope that a non-governmental organization will be established to help us claim compensation from the Japanese government.
Comrade Tong Zeng,
It’s hard for me to calm down after recently reading the article entitled “History Is Not Forgotten” from the Issue 10, Reader’s Digest of 1992. It feels like that I relived my childhood when I fled for shelter with my mother. It has been over 50 years, but I will never forget the memory. I am filled with admiration and gratitude to you and your colleagues for demanding compensation from the Japanese government for Chinese victims during the World War II and for speaking what we want to say.
Shortly after the July 7 Incident, the war spread to my hometown Baiguan Town near the Caoe River in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. After my hometown was occupied by the Japanese army, watchtowers and ditches were built and our houses were burned down. So, when I was young, I fled to our relatives in the countryside with my grandmother and mother. But the countryside was also in control by the Japanese army and the people there would also suffer all the time. I’ve heard and witnessed many tragedies. What I’ve heard include burying the Chinese people alive, cutting open the belly of Chinese people on chopping boards in the fair, raping women and burning houses. What I’ve witnessed include the Japanese planes dropping bombs, the bodies of compatriots in the wilderness and the cries of the victims’ relatives. The past memories are still fresh to me and make me sad and cry. The atrocities of the Japanese army have planted a seed of hate in my heart since I was young.
20 years ago, China established diplomatic relations with Japan. To form a long-term Sino-Japanese friendship and reduce the burden of the Japanese people, the Chinese government forgoes the claim for war reparations from Japan. At that time, the Chinese people accepted the decision in silence, but didn’t know about damage compensation. Since you and your colleagues have found legal bases for demanding compensation from the Japanese government for millions of Chinese victims, I strongly support you with no reservation.
Currently, the victims of the World War II in other countries around the world were able to file claimes for compensation from the invaders. The Chinese victims have suffered the most and have every right to make the reasonable request from the Japanese government. Our government is sympathetic and supports our effort. I also agree with you on launching the signature campaign until the Japanese government apologizes and compensates Chinese victims. This will enforce but not damage the friendship between Chinese and Japanese people. In addition, I suggest we set up a non-governmental organization to demand compensation from the Japanese government by collecting data, carrying out relevant activities and facilitating the signature campaign. I will provide help. Would you tell me your opinion on this?
Chinese citizen
Mi Kangyou
December 10, 1992
