Date of letter:1993-09-05
Address of author:Chenzhou City, Hunan Province
Date of event:1944
Location of event:Hunan Province
Name of author:Ren Kunquan, Huang Yumei, Ren Chunquan
Name(s) of victim(s):Ren Weicheng, Ren Runsheng, Ren Kunquan, Ren Liangquan, etc.
Type of atrocity:Murders, Rapes, Others(MU, RA, OT）
Other details:In 1944, the Japanese army invaded my hometown. Our houses and other belongings were burned by the Japanese soldiers. My grandfather Ren Yucheng and a woman hid in the mountain, but they were found by the Japanese soldiers. The Japanese soldiers wanted to rape the woman, and kicked and injured my grandfather. He suffered from gatism for 12 days and then passed away. My father Ren Runsheng was caught by the Japanese soldiers, suffered chop wound, and died at an early age. Ren Kunquan was caught by the Japanese soldiers to lift things, and was beaten as soon as he was a little slow. Ren Liangquan was killed in Hengyang by the Japanese soldiers at the age of 22.
Mr. Tong Zeng:
In March this year I wrote a claim letter to Japan, in which I requested you to forward it to the Japanese Embassy in China. I suppose you must have received it. Recently, the newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister admitted Japan was wrong in waging the invasion war, and expressed regret. As a result, I again prepared a “Claim” letter stamped with seal of People’s Government of Gaofang Town, Miluo City and local Residents’ Committee to corroborate “The facts are true”. Again I request you to forward it to the Japanese Embassy in China. Can this wish come true? Please reply. I will appreciate very much for what you have done for me.
Regards
Sincerely Yours
Ren Kunquan
September 11, 1993
Correspondence address: 7320 Factory Automobile & Motorbike Repair Factory, Nanta Road, Chenzhou City, Hunan
Japanese Government c/a Japanese Embassy in China
Compensation Claim
March 4, 1993
The Japanese Imperialism occupied Northeast China since September 18, 1931. Since July 7, 1937 it waged all-out invasion war against China, intending to annihilate China. Up till August 1945, they killed and burned, raped and looted in China, committing all sorts of crimes, which were too numerous to enumerate. We are among the tens of millions of victims.
We originally lived at Shangsunjiawan(close to Gaojiafang Railway Station), Gaofang Town, Xiangyang County, Hunan Province, (currently Gaofang Town, Miluo City). In the summer of 1944, the Japanese Invasion Army approached, and fought a battle in the back mountain of the place we lived. The KMT troops retreated, so our hometown fell into the hands of the enemy. Our houses, including bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining room, cattle pen, pig pen, toilet, hulling rice room totaled 26 rooms, with an area of 780 sqm. There were 12 beds in the houses, including 6 flowery gate beds engraved in Phoebe zhennan wood, 6 big cabinets, 8 wooden tables, 60 chairs and stools, with elaborate engraving in Phoebe zhennan wood, a gift handed down from old generations, matched with two dragon playing with pearl pattern, ancient relics with very high value —— alcove and inside Kwan-yin statue on lotus pedestal and ancestral tablet in Phoebe zhennan wood, stone roller, roller frame, roller base, windmill, rice huller, rice sieve, bamboo plate, barn, farming tools plow harrow, grain bucket, grain huller etc, made of bamboo. Regardless of value, all of which were plundered by the Japanese Invasion Army to burn as firewood. The whole house was dismantled by the Japanese Invasion Army, and all rafters, windows, door boards, floor beams, flooring, sandalwood rubber wood were taken away to be used to boil water, cook rice, and prepare dishes. The house was reduced to a pile of broken tiles and bricks, until now it was still not restored, and became a plot of farmland. The house, articles and the pigs & chickens being looted need a compensation of USD 100,000.
The Japanese Invasion Army came, as ferocious as wolves and tigers. Grandfather Ren Weicheng and a woman were hiding in the back mountain, but unfortunately they were discovered by a Japanese soldier, who wanted to rape the woman. Because Grandfather was nearby, he kicked him to the bottom of the mountain, which caused Grandfather to lose the ability to relieve himself for 12 days and nights, and he eventually died in bitter hatred. My father Ren Runsheng was captured by the Japanese Invasion Army, and injured by bayonet stab, blood all over the body. Since then his condition deteriorated and he passed away early. Ren Kunquan myself was captured by the Japanese Invasion Army to carry things, walked for a whole night. When I walked slightly “slower” I would receive heavy beating, with bruises on the face, and scars on my chest and back. Grandfather’s younger brother Ren Liangquan was only 22. Soon after marriage, he worked as shop assistant in the shop of his uncle Tan Binglin in Hengyang, and was unfortunately captured by the Japanese Invasion Army and killed in Guangxi. As a result my aunt lost home and was forced to enter a Buddhist nunnery to become a nun. My sister-in-law Li Xingyuan lived as a widow till old. When one is beaten and killed by the Japanese Invasion Army, it resulted in misery, sadness, and sorrow. One’s life can hardly be calculated in terms of value, but the death of two people and the injury of two need a compensation of, based on the minimum cost, USD120,000 to the dead person’s family members and the wounded people.
The huge loss of the deaths and destruction of family listed above needs a total compensation of USD 220,000, in order to alleviate the long time grief.
Recipient’s address and compensation distributor: Ren Kunquan c/a Ren Gexiang working at Operation Section, Xiameiqiao Textile Factory, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province
Claimer: Ren Kunquan, 73; Huang Yumei, 63; Ren Chunquan, 70; Ye Cheng, 66; Li Lairen, 68; Ren Gaiyun, 73; Ren Guangxue, 54; Gao Daoyou, 45; Li Xinyuan, 78; Ren Jingcong, 78.
The above facts are true
Second Residents’ Committee
1993.9.5
Second Residents’ Committee of Gaojiafang Town, Miluo City (Village Committee Seal)
The above facts are true
Gaofang Town People’s Government
93.9.5
People’s Government of Gaojiafang Town, Miluo City (Government Seal)
