ABSTRACT
China’s democracy movement of 1978-81 was so effectively suppressed that there has been no attempt at a repetition. Many of its participants remain in labor camps and prisons, though a few have been released. The Hong Kong magazine Zhengming carried an article by Shi Bing about the condition of China’s most illustrious imprisoned democrat, Wei Jingsheng. According to Shi, Mr. Wei received hospital treatment at least twice. The first time, “He was in a trance; his eyes stared blankly and he did not recognize his acquaintance.” Many other Roman Catholics have been imprisoned over the years. One, Father Zhu Shude, died in a labor camp in Hefei in December 1983. Zhu was French-educated, having received a doctorate from the Sorbonne. He was first arrested in 1953 and spent the next 26 years in prison. He was rearrested and sentenced to 12 years. The family had been Roman Catholic since the time of Matteo Ricci, 400 years ago.
