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Urgent Release Regarding the Pass Away of Prominent Pro-democracy Movement Leader Mr. Zhao FCM Free China Movement http://www.freechina.net Press Advisory Urgent release to the media and general public regarding the pass away of prominent pro-democracy movement leader Mr. Zhao Pinlu on 12:20 PM on March 9, 2004 Mr. Zhao Pinlu, the prominent labor leader in 1989's pro democracy movement and co-fonder of the Free China Movement has passed away in New York Hospital of Queens. Family and friends were with him at his final moment. Mr. Zhao's father was allowed to fly to USA to have a final look at his son a few days ago and his mother is still on the way from Beijing. Mr. Zhao is one of many pro-democracy dissidents who continued the fight for freedom and democracy in China after being granted asylum in US. The Chinese government has wanted Mr. Zhao for three years after the Beijing Massacre until he was finally smuggled out to Hong Kong in 1992. He has lived with his wife and son in Flushing New York since then while working as a construction worker most of the time. He has not received his green card after years of waiting. Mr. Zhao has been instrumental in organizing the worker's movement in Beijing to support the students in Tian An Men Square in 1989. He was wanted by the Chinese communist government after the crack down where at least hundreds of innocent students, workers and citizens were murdered by the army in early June 1989. Mr. Zhao co-founded the Free China Movement along with 30 other pro democracy and human rights organizations in 1998 and has been elected the president of the coalition since 2000. Due to difficult life in America and lack of nutrition his health worsened about 2 years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer. With meager support from family members and friends his illness was not treated in time and we are sad to see him leaving us and the freedom cause he has been fighting for. He told us recently when he was able to talk that he'll never regret the price he is paying for the fight for a Free China and was sad to not be able to see it coming during his lifetime. Mr. Zhao is survived with his sick wife and a 20-year-old son in New York. Zhao Pinlu Memorial Trust Fund has been set up and The Preparatory Committee for Mr. Zhao's Memorial Service has been established by hundreds of pro-democracy dissidents worldwide including USA, Taiwan, and Hongkong. Contact: Dr. Li Jinjin Co-fonder Free China Movement Tel: 917-981-5668 or 646-732-8299 Mr. Zhao's wife Tel: 718-321-2899 Shengde Lian Executive Director Free China Movement 703 864-9304 (30) (03/09/2004) Previous writings by the author in the year
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