Date of letter:1995-10-22
Address of author:Xushui County, Baoding City, Hebei Province
Date of event:1937-09-20
Location of event:Xushui County, Baoding City, Hebei Province
Name of author:Su Kewu, SuKewen
Name(s) of victim(s):Su Kewu, SuKewen’s grandfather
Type of atrocity:Murders, Others（MU, OT）
Other details:In 1937, a troop of more than 300 Japanese soldiers came over from the east of our village. At that time my grandfather was cutting grass for pigs beside the Lianhua River. He was shot dead on the spot by the Japanese soldiers without any precaution, his intestines spilling out. After my grandfather was killed, our tofu workshop had to stop production, impoverishing my family. I require the Japanese government to compensate my family for all the losses. Supporting documents are attached to prove that all of these are true.
Petition for Compensation from Japan by Civilian Victims
(Plaintiffs) Su Kewu, male, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, 70, Han
Su Kewen, male, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, 68, Han. The two plaintiffs are brothers and live at Tali, Wangjiazhuang, Xushui, Hebei, 072558. Su Kewu and Su Kewen represent six immediate family members.
If Su Kewu and Su Kewen cannot act as plaintiffs, Su Junhai and Su Junlin (sons of plaintiffs) will represent them.
(Defendant) Japanese government
(Cause of action) During the World War II, the invading Japanese army occupied my county on September 22, 1937. The plaintiffs’ whole family lived in a village that was not fortified. The plaintiffs’ grandfather was innocently shot and killed by the Japanese army, causing a severe economic loss to my family. The plaintiffs demand a compensation of 35,000 USD from the defendant.
(Facts and grounds) The plaintiffs Su Kewu and Su Kewen’s family has eight people, including grandfather Su Luoru, grandmother Su Xushi, father Su Luozhai, two aunts and the two plaintiff brothers in addition to mother Mrs. Su née Liu
The family lived at Tali, Wangjiazhuang, Xushui, Hebei (See the Attachment No. 1 graph) in 1937.
At 7 a.m. on September 22, 1937, over 300 Japanese soldiers marched to our village from the east. At that time, our grandfather was cutting grass by Lianhua River and was suddenly shot in the belly by a Japanese soldier (riding a horse) about 70 meters away from him. With intestines spilling out, our grandfather died on the site. He was then 52, the main provider of our family.
After our grandfather’s death, my family’s tofu production workshop was forced to stop production, causing huge economic losses to our family and making our lives difficult. Therefore, the plaintiffs demand a compensation of 35,000 USD.
Based on the above facts, the plaintiffs’ families were all Chinese farmers and lived in a village that was not fortified. But the invading Japanese army shot and killed a member of the family members at will, causing severe economic losses to them. The Japanese army has violated the international law and the laws of war and shall be liable for compensation to the plaintiff’s family.
As civilian victims, we demand civilian compensation from the Japanese government, which is reasonable and justified. Moreover, it is an international custom that the defeated country that had launched a war of aggression should compensate to the victims of the country being invaded. Therefore, the Japanese government cannot evade the responsibility for compensation to the Chinese people who suffered major losses during the war.
Attachment: No. 1 Schematic graph of the place where the victim was killed
No. 2：Witness Yan Xingming’s proof of evidence
No. 3: Witness Su Zhihao’s proof of evidence
We kindly ask Ambassador Michihiko Kunihiro of the Japanese Embassy in China to forward the petition to the Japanese government.
Chinese civilian victims: Su Kewu (Personal seal)
Su Kewen (Fingerprint)
October 22, 1995
No. 2 Witness
Proof of Evidence
I am Yan Xingming (fingerprint), male, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, 70, Han, lives at Tali, Wangjialun, Xushui, Hebei.
When I was 12, the grandfather of Su Kewu and Su Kewen were shot to death by the Japanese army. I remember clearly that it happened on lunar August 23, the 26th year of the National Republic of China, that was, September 22, 1937. At that time, I lived on the north side of Lainhua River of my village. At 7 a.m., September 22, I just walked out from my house and saw Su Luoru (Su Kewu and Su Kewen’s grandfather) cutting grass on the west side of Lianhua River. I was about to fetch a shovel for my father in the field. I walked not far to the west and heard a gunshot from the east. I looked back and saw Su Luoru fall down with a scream. There were about 300 Japanese soldiers marching from the east of the street to the south. After they left, I hurried to Su Luoru and found that he was dead. Afterwards, Su Zhihao also came in a hurry. This was what happened.
Witness: Yan Xingming (Fingerprint)
October 23, 1995
No. 3 Witness
Proof of Evidence
I am Su Zhihao (fingerprint), male, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, 77, Han, and lives at Tali, Wangjiazhuang, Xushui, Hebei. At 7 a.m. on September 22, 1937, I was walking from the south of village to my home. When I got to the south of Lianhua River, I saw the Japanese army shooting Su Kewu and Su Kewen’s grandfather Su Luoru.
Witness Su Zhihao (Fingerprint)
October 23, 1995
Attachment No. 1: Schematic graph of the place where the victim was killed
