Beijing, End of March, 1979
These black and white photos from the Xidan Democracy Wall in Beijing were also taken by French sinologist Alain Peyraube:
"A Letter to Comrade Peng Zhen of the National Law Committee and to the Minister of Public Security Zhao Cangbi"
"The public security departments must act according to the constitution and the state regulations for arrest and detention, and immediately release Fu Yuehua" (the woman who had organised protest by the "petioners" in Beijing in late 1978 and early 1979, arrested in mid-January).
The are parts of the text missing. This arrest has been "illegal", say the authors of this poster who identify themselves as "family members of Fu Yuehua", adding that it did not take place according to the rules stipulated in the laws (demanding instructions by a judge or a prosecutor). Authorities had explained that the arrest followed "internal procedures" that remain vague and arbitrary.
Two interesting notes above and under the poster help to understand some of the circumstances of the spontaneous movement: Above it says: "Lock your bikes first before you read the dazibaos!", and another one: "Please dont paste other poster on top, leave this one until April 4."
"My Open Letter to Deputy Chairman Chen Yun"
"My Fourth Open Letter to Chaiman Hua and Vice Chairman Deng of the Party Central Committee"
"Save Our Factory!!!"
"Voicing Grievance to Chairman Hua" (March 18, 1979)
"The Latest Case of Injustice"
"Jia Xiao Accuses the 'Lin Biao Line' in the Air Force of Bloody Devastation"
"Records of the Investigation on the Fu Yuehua Case by Representatives of Various People's Magazines and Organizations"
Wei Jingsheng and other Democracy Wall activist went to see police and prison officials at the "Gongdelin" detention center in Beijing to inqire about the arrest of Fu Yuehua (a female activist who had organized protest marches of "petitioners" in late 1978 and early 1979 before being arrested in mid-January). Wei Jingsheng had acquired a tape recorder from the French sinologist (and embassy staff) Emmanuel Bellefroid to record this conversation and publish it.
"Do We Want Democracy or a New Dictatorship"
This is the first page of Wei Jingsheng's famous dazibao that had been published a few days before at the Beijing Democracy Wall and in Wei's journal "Tansuo" (Exploration). It was because auf this text that accused Deng Xiaoping of deing a "dictator like Mao" that Wei was arrested (on March 29) and eventually sentenced to 15 years in prison in October. This dazibao is a good example to prove that important political texts by activist were quickly transfered and copied in other cities. This publication in Shanghai must have been a day or two after the first release in Beijing.
"Democracy and Dictatorship" - "Human Rights and the Law"
