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Tributes pour in for Zhao AFP Tributes pour in for Zhao AFP, TOKYO Jan 17: Tributes poured in Monday from around the world for former Chinese Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang, with the Japanese premier and dissidents urging Beijing to push for the democratic reforms which Zhao envisioned. Zhao, who was ousted after opposing the 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square democracy movement and spent the rest of his life under house arrest, died in a Beijing hospital aged 85. "I want them to make efforts for democratisation," Jiji Press news agency quoted Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi as saying. Taiwan also urged rival China to push for democracy and political reforms in the wake of Zhao's death. "We urge the Chinese government to learn from Mr. Zhao's tolerance, to push for democratic and political reforms and respect the call for an open and diverse society," Taiwan cabinet spokesman Chen Chi-mai said. Zhao served as prime minister and party head during the 1980s. His policies opened the way for China's economic miracle. Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio praised Zhao for his "humanity and moderation". "I would very much like to lend a word of deep condolence for the fact that Zhao Ziyang has just passed away," Sampaio told reporters in the former Portuguese territory of Macau, where he was on an official visit. "He was a very responsible Chinese leader. I recollect that he was noted for his humanity and his moderation," the president said. Overseas Chinese dissidents mourned the death of "one of China's greatest reformers", who sacrificed his political career by opposing the bloody Tiananamen crackdown. "We feel sad that China has lost one of its greatest reformers since 1949 who advocated the rule of law and democracy and insisted on the peaceful dealing with the pro-democracy uprising in 1989," said Shengde Lian, former student protest leader and head of the New York-based Free China Movement. "Zhao had the courage to stand up against the bloody crackdown though he knew that he would lose his own political future," he said in a statement. http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/jan/18/18012005ap.htm#A15(01/20/2005 0:12) Previous writings by the author in the year |