Despite labor reformer's travails . . . Activist, teens see 2 different Chinas

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DESPITE LABOR REFORMER'S TRAVAILS . . . ACTIVIST, TEENS SEE 2 DIFFERENT CHINAS

November 19, 2000

Han Dong-fang is one of Chinese workers' biggest supporters. Still, he is not well-known among the people who have the most to gain from his work.

"Han Dong-fang . . . I'm not familiar. Just heard of him,'' said Ken Chen, 16, a student from the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

During the summer, a Y-Press team traveled to Hong Kong, where it interviewed Han. Also this summer, Y-Press reporters interviewed Ken and other Chinese students from Shenzhen Foreign Languages School, who were in Indianapolis in an exchange program with Pike Township Schools.

Most of the students knew Han Dong-fang by name only, saying they had no interest in politics.

Before the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising, in which student-led demonstrators began a hunger strike and demonstration in support of democratic reforms, Han was working to improve working conditions in China. His main goal was to set up an independent labor union.

"When this happened, we were still young -- about 3 years old,'' explained Kim Zhang, 17.

Han's desire to improve working conditions began when he was an electrician on a train. Soon after he started, he noticed that the noise at work would cause him to lose his hearing.

"I talked to the leader. I say, 'Well, you should really buy us something to stop this, or you should pay us more.' The leader says . . . 'Don't complain.

" 'If the higher-level leader wants to change it, they will change it. If they don't change it, it's a waste of time. Don't ask me again.' ''

Han's labor union was shut down after the student revolt was suppressed, and he became a wanted man. He did not realize, however, that the police were looking for him until he saw his picture on television. And he turned himself in.

Han was imprisoned and became ill. He asked for medical attention, which angered prison officials. "If you ask for medical treatment, that means you still remember you are a human being,'' he explained.

On one occasion, a doctor put an acupuncture needle through his hand, claiming it would cure his stomach problems. Still, Han asked for treatment. He was sent to a special cell containing seriously ill prisoners.

"They only keep sick people, people who have TB, skin problems and liver problems (in this cell), so they send me there as a punishment. (They) said, 'You will learn something from that,' '' said Han.

He was there for five months and contracted tuberculosis.

Han was released from prison in 1991. In 1992, he obtained permission to receive treatment in the United States, where he had a lung removed.

After he recovered, Han was ready to continue his work.

However, the Chinese government would not allow him back into the country. He moved to Hong Kong in 1993, knowing the region would become a part of China in 1997.

While Han has been in Hong Kong, he has worked on two proj ects to improve working conditions on the mainland.

"I set up the China Labor Bulletin , which is supported by international trade unions, including the trade unions from the United States, AFL-CIO. We are mainly collecting information from mainland China about the Chinese worker situation, like their working conditions.''

He described some of the workers' hardships. "They are losing jobs. No Social Security. Their children cannot go to school,'' he said. "These sort of things are happening in a socialist country -- it's unbelievable.''

Han also spreads his message over the radio waves. He started broadcasting a show called Labor Bulletin in 1997 over Radio Free Asia.

Han's work centers around improving the working conditions for the average person in China. Surprisingly, the Chinese youths interviewed do not agree with Han that working conditions in China need improving.

"Most of the people in China work very hard and get a good salary,'' said Camille Sun, 16.

Kim admits that, in contrast to the beliefs of communism, some people are better off than others.

"There must be some difference between the different classes of the people, but generally speaking, they are very fair (with) their pay. And also the condition of the women is great,'' said Kim.

Han also is concerned with censorship in China. He said the Chinese government has intercepted many copies of his publications.

However, the Chinese youths say censorship is not a problem.

"Sometimes I watch the American channel, and the channel is just the same as a newspaper,'' said Ken.

"We often connect to fetch information from the Internet. The Internet is very real; the information is very real. And compared to the newspaper, they are just the same,'' added Kim.

Han also says China is largely a poor country, but again, the Chinese youths disagreed.

"You know about China just from the TV, the news, the videos, something out of the photos maybe, the paper. Some of the news is not real. They just take up some little point inside the old area, so that maybe you have the wrong opinion about it,'' said Helen Wong, 16.

"But you know, every country has different areas. Maybe some areas have a lot of advantages, and some do not. Some areas (are) poor and some areas (are) rich,'' she said.

Still, Han fears that China's labor problems are serious and must be resolved before people resort to violence. He says some people have told him Chinese workers are waiting for someone to start a revolt.

"Even this moment, somewhere in mainland China, there is a demonstration.

"Just yesterday, the audience told me 500 workers fought their way to the entry of a provincial government courthouse. (The government) had decided to sell their factory. Now the workers were so angry. They felt very cheated,'' Han said.

"To do the demonstration is absolutely all right, but we have to make it well-prepared: What do we want, (what) questions do we want to ask, how can we have more representation?"

But workers do not yet know how best to represent their interests. Han fears they will resort to violence out of ignorance.

"They always say, 'We are waiting for some bloody street action.' I think that it will happen that way. That's why I'm fighting. That's why I'm arguing with these workers, saying, 'This is not an answer we are looking for, the killing.''

"We are going to change the system. We are not going to destroy any life,'' he concluded.

But the Chinese youths said they have seen no evidence of the problems and rebellion that Han is fighting against.

"I think (the government is) really good now. They focus on high tech in Shenzhen, and education. I think they are good. They did a good job,'' said Camille.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Rachel Goertemiller, 15; Megan Minkner, 15; and Kristen Schubert, 15.

REPORTERS: Courtney Sampson, 13, and Tyler Smith, 13.

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