China Democratic League member, and Nanjing Normal University Associate Professor Guo Quan, published an open letter to Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wu Bangguo on November 14, 2007, in which he calls for a “democratic government based on multi-party elections that serves the interests of the people.”
Professor Guo’s letter is the third open letter in the past three weeks requesting democracy and political reform. Authors of the first two letters are Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Zhaojun and entrepreneur Zheng Cunzhu. Many believe these open letters mark the start of a new age in which Chinese learn to openly express their political ideas.
In an interview with The Epoch Times, Guo Quan highly praised Mr. Wang Zhaojun, author of the first open letter. “For his age and social status,” said Guo, “Mr. Wang has amazing understanding and sympathy for ordinary people.” Guo noted that he agrees fully with Wang’s views, “I always support those who truly speak for the people, and I always agree with ideas that will benefit the people.”
Professor Guo explained that he started to write the letter in July after long consideration. The materials of the letter are from 18th of the 71 articles he wrote earlier.
In his letter, Guo advocates the abolition of the one-party dictatorship, arguing that the people have the right to choose their own ruling party and to implement a democratic government through multi-party elections. He reasoned, “As taxpayers, the people have the right to choose their own public servants, just like shoppers have the right to select what product they want to buy. Government officials are public servants the people pay for, so the people have the right to replace any official who is not doing a good job.”
Guo Quan said that the only way to ensure that the government carries out its responsibilities to people’s wellbeing is to ensure people’s right to choose their own government. So the one-party dictatorship has to be abolished and multi-party elections should be realized.
Professor Guo criticized the Chinese authorities’ declaration that Chinese people are not well educated enough to have a democratic system.
“They treat Chinese people as idiots,” said Guo with indignation. “Actually as long as Chinese people are allowed to make their own choice, they will certainly choose the best. It is common sense to choose the people who will do good to us. How much education does it take to see this?”
Guo Quan pointed out that what the communist regime says is different from what it does. “How can this regime ’serve the people' when it is already so corrupt? In any other country, people would not tolerate such a corrupt party to rule the country.”
Guo Quan attributes all of China’s problems to the country’s political structure. He added that at present, the few “bigwigs” who hold over 90 percent of the total wealth in China are sacrificing people’s health and the nation’s future, to maintain their luxurious lifestyle.
Guo Quan urged Chinese people stand up for themselves. “Let’s all voice our wills. Let’s find ways to allow more people to speak out!”
“Each voice serves as a vote,” remarked the professor, encouraging people to “go out to the street”. “By going out to the street,” he said, “I’m not only talking about holding demonstrations and giving speeches in the street or other public places. I’m also talking about using public media and Internet to speak out your true will. The more people speak out, the better the effect.”
Guo believes that, as a butterfly’s wings may cause a tornado, a few small voices will bring about great changes.
Guo Quan also commented on the notorious persecution of Falun Gong. As a former judge, Guo pointed out that “the whole process of suppressing Falun Gong goes against the law.” He said it is completely against the existing laws that Falun Gong practitioners are completely denied their rights to defend themselves in public.
Guo Quan expressed his admiration for Falun Gong practitioners’ anti-persecution efforts and truth-clarification over the past eight years. As a Christian, Guo said that if one has faith in God, one’s belief will give one a strong will. Guo added, “I treat those who have righteous beliefs as my brothers and sisters, including Falun Gong practitioners.”
As for the possible solutions in which China can move toward democracy, Guo Quan thinks that Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s “Three Principles of the People” and “Three Lines of the Governments” is a road which can effectively promote social development in China for its future. The democratic system of Taiwan which shares the same root, the same culture and the same race, is therefore the only road to progress in the human rights cause in China. The disintegration of the former Soviet Union has lessons for China as well.
Guo Quan, born in 1968, is a member of China Democratic League. He was a cadre in state-owned enterprises, a secretary of the Committee of Nanjing Municipal Economic Reform and a legal staff member. After finishing his post-doctoral program in 2001, he joined the faculty there, where he is an associate professor of Literature in Nanjing University. He successively held the posts of postgraduate class teacher in the School of Humanities, director of the adult education office, assistant dean and managing editor on an academic journal produced by the College of Letters in Nanjing Normal University. He is also an adjunct researcher of the Center of Nanjing Massacre Studies.
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