Date of letter:1994-04-24
Address of author:Cangxian County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province
Date of event:1942-1945
Location of event:Cangxian County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province
Name of author:Zhang Shiyan
Name(s) of victim(s):Zhang Shiyan
Type of atrocity:Slave Laborers(SL）
Other details:In March 1942, I was forced into labor by the Japanese in Cangxian County and did not return until February, 1946. Those who were conscripted labor yet tried to escape on the way were killed by bayonet in public. Enclosed are a proof document stamped by township government and a proof from the labor fellows.
Application Materials
Demanding Economic Compensation Against the Japanese Government
for Civilian Victims Economic Lost
By Zhang Shiyan
April 14, 1994
Villagers’ Committee of Qijiawu, Daguanting, Cang
(Villagers’ Committee seal)
People’s Government of Daguanting, Cang
(Government seal)
Applicant: Zhang Shiyan, now 78, born from Qijiawu Cun, Daguanting County, , Cang Xian of Hebei Province and now lives at Qijiawu, Daguanting, Cang, Hebei.
China has only given up war reparations between governments, not the civilian damage compensation. My memory serves as a reflection of my painful suffering and atrocities of Japanese militarists such as Kyrgyzstan TOJO, which are an outrageous to the world. In March 1942, the invading Japanese army captured me at Dulin, Cang Xian and sent me to Japan to be a slave laborer. It wasn’t until February 1946 could I returned to my homeland.
We were arrested on a train in Shizimen, Beijing and when the train reached northern Langfang, three compatriots wanted to flee by jumping off the train. Two died of jumping off it and the last one was captured by the Japanese soldier and beaten and bayoneted in front of other laborers at Tanggu Port. At the port, 20 ml blood was drawn from each laborer for use by the Japanese army. On the way to Japan, laborers who died on the ship were thrown into the sea, eaten by fishes. After 4 days and nights, we reached Tone, Gunma after passing Shimonoseki and Tokyo. We got off Shoda Station and walked 2 or 3 km to the west to reach the destination. We lived in a wood house that couldn’t shelter us from rain or wind. We could see stars and the moon at night. There were guards at the door to watch us. We struggled for 4 years in this living hell. Countless Chinese laborers died or became injured or disabled due to starvation and a lack of medicine. Some laborers couldn’t stand such inhuman mistreatment. There were four who fled into the deep forest and were starved to death. Under all these terrible living and working conditions, the policemen forced us to dig a hydropower tunnel of over 40km through several mountains. We wore cement packages through summer and winter because the Japanese government only provided each of us with a set of thin clothes made of mulberry bark in 4 years. A group of over 340 Chinese laborers were taken to Japan, but only over 140 of them came back to China alive. Each Chinese compatriot returned with two cremation boxes and put them at Cangkou Tongxing Sand Factory in Qingdao, China.
During the World War II, the Japanese army forced 200,000 Korean women to be comfort women. In 1992, these women demanded compensation against Prime Minister MIYAZAWA for political and physical harm and they were recognized and compensated.
The militarists of the Japanese Emperor Showa period such as Kyrgyzstan TOJO inhumanly treated Chinese laborers. Their inhumanity was well verified by the people of all invaded countries. Following the international law and conventions, it’s reasonable and legitimate for Chinese laborers to demand economic compensation. Our claims have the support and understanding from the impartial people worldwide for justice and peace. It is the only way to really maintain our national dignity, protect the equal human rights and establish fair Sino-Japanese relationship. The Japanese people are kind and friendly. During Chinese laborers’ stay in Japan, Japanese people would provide us clothes, shoes and food behind the guards, which fully reflects the deep friendship between Japanese and Chinese peoples. So, we Chinese laborers demand compensation against the Japanese government for our economic and political losses. The Japanese people will support, sympathize and understand us. I request the following compensation of the Japanese government:
1. A compensation for my four-year economic and political losses;
2. A compensation for my 200 ml blood;
3. A compensation for my four-year mental losses.
Applicant Zhang Shiyan
Villagers’ Committee of Qijiawu, Daguanting, Cang
(Villagers’ Committee seal)
People’s Government of Daguanting, Cang
(Government seal)
Witnesses (Laborers who are still living include)-1 Block, Wanliutang Road, Shenhezhuang, Shenyang (forwarded
Wang Yongyi, who lives at Dengjiawu, Houyi, Yongqing, Hebei
He Chengyan, who lives at Laoyoutun, Bieguzhuang, Yongqing, Hebei
Li Dehuai, who lives at Qianliuwuying, Bieguzhuang, Yongqing, Hebei
Xu Deming, who lives at Room 242, 4th Floor, 2nd Unit, 24 (Residents’ Committee of Wanquandongli)
