Date of letter:1994-05-21
Address of author:Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province
Date of event:1943
Location of event:Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province
Name of author:Lu Mingbao
Name(s) of victim(s):Lu Xinhua (Lu Mingbao’s uncle)
Type of atrocity:Murders, Others（MU, OT）
Other details:In the summer of 1943, soon after my uncle was married, one morning Japanese soldiers kidnapped him without explanation. He received torture, and lost human shape; finally he was buried alive by the Japanese invaders with his family broken. Now I demand Japanese government to compensate all losses, several testimony materials are attached.
Respected Comrade Tong Zeng,
Thanks to recommendation and explanation by my fellow comrades, plus perusal of some relevant documents, I learned that you are collecting and sorting out materials on the bloody crimes of killing millions of our compatriots by the Japanese Militarism in their invasion of China during the Anti-Japanese War period and for innocent victims, my thoughts once again returned to the days half a century ago, after repeated careful consideration, by following the instructions of my fellow comrades, I wrote a report on the killing of my step-father (uncle) by the invaders and prepared corresponding testimonies, with the aim of wiping out national humiliation, pacifying people’s sentiment, establishing national prestige, and urging the invaders to assume responsibility of invasion; therefore it represents both my personal innermost voice, and also the wish of tens of millions of victim families, I strongly demand Japan to offer compensation to victims, as money cannot buy patriotic heart, national enmity and family hatred cannot be forgotten, national integrity cannot be lost, the invasion crimes must be revealed and remembered for generations to come.
I wrote this documents about two months ago, despite my original intention of not posting it, recently I read that the nearly appointed Japanese Finance Minister ×× even said the Nanjing Massacre during the invasion war was fabricated, and the invasion war aimed to liberate colonial land, although this person had been removed from office after protestation by our country and the international community, Japan’s new Prime Minister also again said sorry to China, nonetheless since the invaders admitted invasion but assumed no responsibility and consequence of the invasion, it is hypocritical and loathsome, so now I mail this material to you for your collection, I wish the souls of tens of millions of victims one day will receive justice from the Japanese government, so as to wipe out national humiliation and civilian grievance, and make up for the losses of tens of millions of victim family members.
Regards
Sincerely yours
Lu Mingbao
No. 27, Lane 56, Xianwan Street, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu
94.5.21
Complaint for Strongly Demanding Japan to pay Compensation to Victims
During the Anti-Japanese War period, the Japanese Invaders have committed so many bloody crimes in China, some are indeed hair-raising, today, half a century passed, but it was still vividly fresh in memory, in the aftermath of anger, it is believed the Chinese people one day will demand Japan to give compensation to victims, so as to make up for the irreparable loss sustained by victims, it is believed this day will surely come.
My step-father Lu Xinhua is one of these victims, it happened in the summer of 1943 (back then it was the season of planting rice seedling), my step-father was just married, one morning he was at home, suddenly the Japanese invaders went to the countryside, and without saying anything, mandatorily kidnapped him and took him away, at that time he was escorted to Jiangying County Puppet Sixth Zone Chenyangtang District Administrative Office (now Chenyang Town, Zhangjiagang City), tortured him thoroughly and used cruel torment, back then it was mid summer, they stripped him clean, and instigated military hound to attack him, then imprisoned him in an open-air yard surrounded by high walls, with exposure to both blazing sun and night dew, meanwhile continually administered extreme penalty, then used sharpened bamboo strips to pierce his body till there was no undamaged skin, then sprayed lime water onto his body, the result was during those hot summer days, flies and mosquitoes attacked him day and night, for nearly two months, his body was covered with maggots, when we went to see him in the prison, he looked like half human and half ghost, it was indeed a horrible sight, in order to seek early release, our family sold three mu of farming land to bail out my step-father, but in the end in vain, finally in one afternoon in autumn, the barbarian Japanese invaders buried my step-father alive, before burying him, they stabbed 18 times into my step-father’s body, and looped his neck with two thick ropes before pushing him into the pit, which terminated his young life, this tragic incident was known to almost everyone in the surrounding area at that time, now one lone grave was still there , after my step-father was killed by the Japanese invaders, my young aunt was forced to remarry, it was indeed a case of broken up family and estranged wife, as the offspring of my step-father, I personally witnessed this case, there are also considerable number of other on-the-spot witnesses who are still alive today, I hereby submit the complaint to request relevant departments of the Chinese government, resolutely demand settlement of grievance and compensation for my family’s loss with half a century long standing (for the above-mentioned unfortunate proceeding), now I attach corresponding testimonies, and request verification, as the offspring of my step-father, I am now sixty year old, as a cadre of the state government, I must be accountable for my ancestors, so as that I will no longer feel indebted to the perished soul, I am now retired and stay at home, I previously joined the Korean War Volunteer Army, later I was demobilized to work for many years at Jiangyin Automobile Transport Company (Wuxi Passenger Transport Company), before retirement I was the President of the Trade Union, my current address is No. 27-28, Lane 56, Xianwan Street, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu, it is believed the day of redressing the wrong and claiming compensation for victims will definitely come.
Written by Lu Mingbao (name seal)
Home address: No. 27-28, Lane 56, Xianwan Street, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu
To Whom It May Concern
This is to certify that Lu Xinbao, villager of Group Eight, Chenyang Village, Chenyang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, saw Japanese soldiers killed Lu Xinhua (previously residing at Group Seven, Shahong Village, Deji County, Zhangjiagang City) without provocation. The persecution time was in the autumn of 1943, and there were many witnesses at that time.
Testifier Lu Xinbao (name seal)
Written by Qian Guiping 2nd Squad of 8th Brigade
March 26, 1994
To Whom It May Concern
This is to certify that Gao Yuming, villager of Group Six, Tianfei Village, Deji Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, knew that the Japanese soldiers killed Lu Xinhua (previously residing at Group Seven, Shahong Village, Deji County, Zhangjiagang City) without provocation. The persecution time was in the autumn of 1943, Zhou Shengdi bought a poplar coffin for burial from Uncle Gao Yuming’s family. I myself know the sale of that coffin.
Gao Yuming (signature)
Testifier: Gao Yuming
Written by: Gao Weizhong
April 2, 1994
