Date of letter:1993-05-11
Address of author:Yongqing County, Langfang City, Hebei Province
Date of event:1942-11
Location of event:Baoding City, Hebei Province
Name of author:Zheng Wenlin
Name(s) of victim(s):Zheng Wenlin
Type of atrocity:Slave Laborers（SL）
Other details:In 1942, the Japanese army mopped up Daqing River and caught many as Slave Laborerss including me. I worked as a Slave Laborers in Japan for 4 years. I dug caves every day, and had to eat pig feed, which was not enough to keep us full, either. We could not get cotton-padded clothes in winter or thin clothes in summer. Like treating beasts of burden, the Japanese soldiers often beat Chinese Labors and some were beaten to death. I strongly urge the Japanese government to compensate for all my losses.
Petition Demanding the Japanese Government Pay Wages to Chinese Laborers
China has forfeited the right of war compensation between governments but did not address the issue of civilian compensation. The following are my painful past memories of laboring in Japan. In January 1942, many people including me were captured by the invading Japanese army during a raid in Northern Daqinghe, Hebei and sent to the Tanggu Camp. Later I was sent to a railway station in Nomura, Ligon, Gunma, Japan. I was forced to labor for 4 years in a ravine 6 miles south of the railway station. I worked on digging a tunnel every day. The tunnel was over 15 km long from east to west and used for hydro power generation. We did heavy work every day but we were fed pig feed; we were always starving. Instead of being provided with warm clothes in winter and thin clothes in summer, we were only given a crotch cloth to wear every day to work. The Japanese foremen often beat the Chinese laborers with sticks and whips as if they were cattle and horses and called them morons. Some Chinese laborers were beaten to death by the Japanese foremen, some killed themselves and some escapees were arrested, brought back and killed by Japanese dogs. The Japanese foremen said, “You Chinese people cannot run away. You are just food for Japanese dogs.” Some Chinese laborers died of injury while working and others were blinded or otherwise disabled. When Japan surrendered in late 1945, only about 130 out of over 400 Chinese laborers assigned to this camp were still alive. We returned to our motherland in March 1946 with the help of the American army and were received by the Red Cross of Qingdao, China. We can talk about the details of our ordeal in person if that is needed. The two Japanese foremen were called Sato and Sataka, respectively.
I strongly demand compensation from the Japanese government:
1. I worked as a laborer for 4 years in Japan and suffered for those 4 years, so I should be compensated a 4-year wage of 40,000 USD.
2. I should be compensated 5,000 USD for my mental suffering.
3. I was hit by a big stone in the head while digging a tunnel, which led to a concussion due to the lack of treatment. I still bear the scars in my head and speak incoherently. I should be compensated 5,000 USD for this injury.
4. The Japanese army tied my hands with barbed wire, causing my hands to become numb and therefore losing the ability to work. I should be compensated 5,000 USD for this injury.
Witness: Liu Shuge: Address: Shangwuzhuang, Sanshengkou, Yongqng, Hebei
Ma Ruifu: Shangwuzhuang, Sanshengkou, Yongqng, Hebei
Li Xianyan: Bingjiao, Sanshengkou, Yongqng, Hebei
Li Shuming: Bingjiao, Sanshengkou, Yongqng, Hebei
Chinese laborer and victim: Zheng Wenlin
Shangwuzhuang, Sanshengkou, Yongqng, Hebei
