June Fourth: The True Story, is the title of the Chinese version of The Tiananmen Papers (New York Times 21 Apr. 2001; Taipei Times 1 May 2001), a book co-edited by Andrew J. Nathan and Perry Link with the assistance of a Chinese collaborator known by the pseudonym "Zhang Liang" (Harvard University 23 Feb. 2001). The June Fourth book, described by Nathan as "minutes of key meetings, [detailing] the discussions held by China's leaders on the [1989] student protests" in Tiananmen Square (ibid.), was banned in mainland China and called a "fabrication" by the Chinese authorities (The Standard 12 Apr. 2001; Wall Street Journal 16 Apr. 2001). The Washington Times reported that 23 people were detained under suspicion of leaking the confidential documents (5 June 2002).

According to a Taipei Times review

[t]he book reflects the notion that the Chinese people are determined to change China into a free, democratic country in the 21st Century. Using a substantial body of authentic documents and reports, the book re-enacts the large demonstrations held in Beijing in the spring of 1989 -- which grew from a memorial procession honoring Hu Yaobang ... -- and powerfully refutes the lie spread by the autocratic Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that the democracy movement was a "counter-revolutionary rebellion" (1 May 2001).

For a more in depth review of The Tiananmen Papers, please consult Jeremy Paltiel's "Tiananmen and the Chinese Antigone," which can be found in the Spring 2001 edition of China Rights Forum on the Human Rights in China (HRIC) Website.

Several sources report that anyone caught in possession of the banned book will have it confiscated by the authorities (Taipei Times 1 May 2001; Hong Kong Imail 14 Apr. 2001; HRIC 1 Dec. 2003). Individuals caught in possession of several or more copies of the book, may face detention, administrative and/or criminal charges (Taipei Times 1 May 2001; Hong Kong Imail 14 Apr. 2001). According to the Communications Director at the New York-based Human Rights in China office,

[c]ontroversial books such as "June Fourth" are commonly smuggled into China, or pirated and sold there by hawkers. Typically when people are caught with these publications, the offending materials are confiscated, and maybe the person is fined. It seems less likely that they would be arrested for only possession of such materials - although it is quite possible that possession might be used as "evidence" supporting arrest for some related "thought crime" (1 Dec. 2003).

Ding Guangen, head of China's Propaganda Department, reportedly issued a list of "'seven no's'" to Chinese Communist Party members with respect to the June Fourth book, prohibiting party members from purchasing, circulating, reprinting, or downloading the book or any text associated with it (Taipei Times 1 May 2001).

The Communications Director of Human Rights in China also stated that distribution of the June Fourth book may result in more severe penalties such as in the case of Li Hongmin who was reportedly arrested in June 2001 for distributing the book via e-mail to his friends (HRIC 1 Dec. 2003; Country Reports 4 Mar. 2002).

According to the South China Morning Post, an American citizen accused by the Chinese authorities of spying for Taiwan and who has also been linked to The Tiananmen Papers was arrested in Guangdong province on 26 May 2001 for "collecting information which endangers state security" (2 Aug. 2001).

Moreover, "on 21 January [2001], the Supreme People's Court ruled that those who cause 'especially serious harm' by providing 'state secrets' to overseas organizations and individuals over the Internet may be sentenced to death" (AI 26 Nov. 2002). Amnesty International maintains that the new law was introduced after translated excerpts of The Tiananmen Papers appeared on the Internet (ibid.).

No references to 6-4 Happenings were found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Amnesty International (AI). 26 November 2002. "People's Republic of China: State Control of the Internet in China." (ASA 17/007/2002) http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engASA170072002?OpenDocument [Accessed 16 Dc. 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 4 March 2002. "China." United States Department of State, Washington D.C. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/eap/8289.htm [Accessed 12 Dec. 2003]

Harvard University. 23 February 2001. "The Tiananmen Papers Examined." A panel presentation cosponsored by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Harvard Univeristy and the Boston World Affairs Council. http://www.ncuscr.org/Public_Education/Tiananmen%20Papers/Tiananmen%20Papers.html [Accessed 16 Dec. 2003]

Hong Kong Imail. 14 April 2001. "Border Alert Over June 4 Book." (Dialog)

Human Rights in China (HRIC), New York. 1 December 2003. Correspondence sent by the Director of Communications.

New York Times. 21 April 2001. Mark Landler. "In Hong Kong, Scholars Keep Safe Distance From Trouble." http://www.mpa.org/_DiscussionChina.00000043.htm [Accessed 26 Nov. 2003]

South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]. 2 August 2001. "China in Bid to Speed Trial of US Scholar Push for Court Date Before Visit by Bush." (Dialog)

The Standard [Hong Kong]. 12 April 2001. "International Publication of Book Giving the 'Truth' Regarding the 4 June Incident." (Dialog)

Taipei Times. 1 May 2001. Thomas Keng Lu. "China Readies for War Against Book." http://taipeitimes.com/chnews/2001/05/01/story/0000083916 [Accessed 16 Dec. 2003]

Wall Street Journal. 16 April 2001. Matt Pottinger. "New Edition of 'The Tianamen Papers' Dredges Up Details of Military's Actions." http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Tiananmen-Papers-Details.htm [Accessed 26 Nov. 2003]

The Washington Times. 5 June 2002. "Hong Kong Vigil Voices Tiananmen Grief." http://iso.hrichina.org/iso/news_item.adp?news_id=828 [Accessed 16 Dec. 2003]

Dialog

Internet sites, including:

Amensty International (AI)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOIN)

Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China

Human Rights in China (HRIC)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)