By Andrew Edwards
DAILY BRUIN STAFF
aedwards@media.ucla.edu
Many students at universities around the world proclaim their
support for the defense of human rights, but very few end up in
jail for expressing their beliefs.
Wang Dan ““ who was a student at Bejing University and is
now studying Chinese history at Harvard ““ was put behind bars
for his pro-democracy views. Wang spent nearly eight years in
prison for his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square rally. Wang
visited UCLA last Friday, joined by three academics working for
political reform in China.
A sizeable audience filled Dodd 175 on Friday to hear a UCLA
International Institute-sponsored discussion on the needs for and
efforts toward constitutional government in China.
The event’s chair, political science professor Richard
Baum, described the speakers as four people dedicated to political
reform in theory and in practice.
Though China does have a constitution, the current version was
written in 1982, and Wang said the document does not guarantee the
rule of law.
“The government abides by some parts of the constitution
but doesn’t abide by all of them,” he said.
The National People’s Congress, China’s legislative
body, is expected to take on constitutional revision after it
begins session on March 5. Visiting scholar Yu Haocheng, who the
Chinese government detained for one year in 1989, said major
changes toward democracy are not likely.
“There is almost no possibility of radical change … at
this time,” he said, speaking in Chinese through an
interpreter.
Yu described an effective constitution as one that would protect
individual rights while restraining the state’s power.
Currently, the political atmosphere in China is much different from
these ideals, he said.
“The general situation of human rights in China is quite
bad,” Yu said.
However, many in China favor increased democratization.
Political scientist Liu Junning, who was blacklisted in 1999,
listed several groups in China working for liberalization such as
liberal intellectuals, dissidents, media and reformist
officials.
Even dishonest elements within the government can influence
changes, Liu said.
“Corrupt officials remind Chinese people how necessary
constitutional reform is for China, so they deserve the
credit,” Liu said, jokingly.
Political science Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University, Wang
Juntao said there is no consensus for immediate democratization,
but agreed with Liu that there is broad support for constitutional
government.
“All agree China needs rule of law,” he said.
But how can citizens make sure the state abides with reforms
once they are made?
“Give (the government) more pressure,” said Wang
Dan.
“Push them to allow us to do something,” he
said.
While many analysts regard China as a society that is moving
towards liberal-democratic institutions, Baum said the process is
still in its first stages.
“The long march to constitutionalism in China is just
beginning,” Baum said.