“Readers Digest” Editorial Department Editor-in-chief Comrade Wang Weixin, Deputy Editor-in-chief Zheng Yuanxu, and Comrade Peng Changcheng:

After reading the article “History Has Not Forgotten – An Account of Chinese Nationals Demanding Damage Reparations from Japan” by Comrade Li Peiyu published in the 10th issue, 1992, (135th overall issue) of your magazine, it stirred up my deep anger and hatred toward the Japanese invaders. I am a survivor of Japanese persecution, a living evidence of Japanese invaders’ crimes. It is fully justified for me to demand Japan, a defeated nation, to provide damage reparations in accordance with international practices. I am 91 this year; there is not much time left for me. When should Japan give reparations if not now? My demand brooks no delay. I request the great Communist Party of China, which has led us to liberation, and the powerful People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China to stand up for justice for the victims of persecution and ravage, support us, speak for us, and make the call for us.

I hereby solemnly declare: I fully support Comrade Tong Zeng, who works at the China Research Center on Aging, and Comrade Chen Jian, from the Youth League Committee of Qilu Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, to uphold justice on this issue. I wish to express my deepest respect to them for their tireless efforts in traveling far and wide and working diligently for the benefit of the victims.

Now I will describe some specifics of my persecution and the persecution of my fellow victims, survivors, along with those who were killed, kidnapped to Japan, and those who died of starvation, cold, and illness in the hands of the Japanese Military Police as follows:

(I) I am Wang Laojun, now 91, native of Lijiazui Village, First District, Mancheng County, Hebei Province. I lived in that village from my birth till 1960. A commoner, I now live at No. 3, Bungalow Building 2, Commercial Dormitory, South Julongchang Street, Xincheng District, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the home of my son Wang Guobin.

During the period before 1946 when the Japanese ruled, apart from Japanese Army troops, there were also Japanese military police in Mancheng County. They conducted raids everywhere, raped, burned, killed, and looted. Japanese aircrafts bombed recklessly. In order to expand their occupation, they set up strongholds everywhere and forced men and women to work as slave laborers building defense work, digging trenches, and putting up gun turrets; both labor and materials were forcibly seized. Common people had no way to live and work in peace. Farms were abandoned, farm animals were stolen, sources of income were lost, and families were broken up. Next, it’s humiliation of the people. They forced young men to undress and walk amid women laborers to be laughed at. Around October 10, they began to capture laborers. I was 45 back then. People were too frightened to sleep at home and went to mountain gullies or other hiding places on the mountain to sleep. One day at midnight, the village was surrounded by Japanese Army, and they began hunting for people. They captured 12 people but one was shot dead and one was wounded. The name list is as follows: Wang Laojun, childhood name Li Chouhuo, Zhang Gengchen, Yu Yuandan, Yu Mazi, Li Laoding’s son Li Danzi, Wang Laoyu’s son Wang Fanger, Li Laoyu’s son Li Lianger, Li Laoguan’s son Li Fanger, Li Laocai’s son Li Chunsheng, Zhang Goudan’s son Zhang Yi, and Li Laodong’s son Li Niwang. The one who was killed was Zhang Canger.

Those captured were first detained at the County Military Police Station; other detainees at the same time included 4 persons from the Zhengjiazui Village and 3 persons from the Liujiazui Village. Their names were unclear. After about seven days, they were escorted to the Shijiazhuang Concentration Camp. About ten more days later, they were transferred to the Tanggu Concentration Camp. At the camp, they received physical examination and, those qualified, were forced to board a ship bound for Japan. Those from our village who boarded the ship were Yu Yuandan and Zhang Gengchen. But till today, there’s no news about them; don’t know if they are alive or dead. Li Chouhuo and I were left behind due to our older age and illness. After the war, the two of us returned to our own village. The remaining people all died of cold, starvation, or illness at either the Shijiazhuang or Tanggu Concentration Camp.

I am now over 90 years old; I’m still alive, and my mind is clear. I hereby request your magazine to dispatch reporters to interview me, to record and film my accusations, and to publish the material nationwide as living evidence of the atrocities; and to submit them to the Japanese Embassy to demand reparations.

(II) Name list of people who were killed or died in bombings:

①Wang Ziguang, childhood name Wang Shuer, and Li Jinsheng, both were around 40 and were captured and shot dead inside the Dongtou Big Ditch in our village.

②Li Laowen and Li Laoyong were killed at the County Military Police Station after being captured. The charge was collusion with the Eighth Route Army.

③Zhang Laoquan’s son Zhang Canger was shot dead on the spot when trying to escape after capture.

④Li Laoyong’s son Li Laowen was killed by Japanese soldiers when he was at the well carrying water.

⑤Li Laocai’s son Li Chunsheng: During a mopping-up campaign, Japanese soldiers surrounded the village and forced all villagers to assemble on a square at the east end of the village. A Japanese officer singled out Li Chunsheng from the crowd and asked the interpreter to ask Li whereabouts of the Eighth Route Army in the village. Li said he didn’t know. Then they asked him again where the tunnel entry of the Eighth Route Army was. He again answered he didn’t know. For several times repeatedly, Li said he didn’t know. At that moment, the Japanese invader drew his pistol and shot Li; the bullet entered the ear and exited from the lip. Although it failed to hit vital parts, blood smeared the whole head red. Both the Japanese invaders and villagers thought he had died. People carried him out of the village to bury him but they were surprised to find that he was still alive. Later, his wounds were healed but, soon afterwards, he was captured by the Japanese invaders again. It was not until the day when Japan surrendered that he returned home. But, due to his injuries, illnesses, and fatigue, he died at home on that same night.

⑥Indiscriminate bombing. Aircrafts dropped a bomb in the courtyard compound of the home of Li Fengyi, a civilian in our village. The houses were totally destroyed and one old man at home was killed. It was so annihilating that they could not find the body. (The dead person was Li Laozai).

The above are all facts and can be verified by media and other appropriate agencies.

Information supplied by: Wang Laojun
Hohhot, October 1, 1992

Recorded by my son Wang Guobin

This document: As a complaint and request for reparations to be delivered to the Japanese Embassy.

As an appeal to be delivered to the Central People’s Government.

As a petition to be delivered to the National People’s Congress.

CC: People’s Daily, Legal Daily, Hebei Daily, Inner Mongolia Daily, Comrade Tong Zeng, Comrade Chen Jian, and Comrade Li Peiyu.