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January 8, 2003
Retired Aide to Mao Calls for Progress to Democracy
By CHRIS BUCKLEY
BEIJING, Jan. 7 — A former secretary to Mao has published a strikingly forthright call for change in a Beijing magazine this month, the latest sign of growing demands for open discussion of political reform.
The retired official, Li Rui, 85, warned in a speech published in the magazine China Chronicle that the country must embrace democratic politics and free speech to avoid stagnation and possible collapse.
"Only with democratization can there be modernization," he said. "This has been a global tide since the 20th century, especially the Second World War, and those who join it will prosper while those who resist will perish."
Mr. Li, a Communist Party member since 1937, is a longtime advocate of faster political liberalization. He has been held at arm's length by party leaders, but his status as a confidant of Mao and a pugnacious critic of conservatives inside the party have given him a degree of protection from censorship, and a large readership.
China Chronicle is a popular history magazine published by a cultural research institute run by retired officials, and is widely read in the party. Mr. Li's call to action comes at a sensitive time when many officials and academics here are waiting to see if China's new leaders, installed at a party congress in November, will consider relaxing one-party rule.
Mr. Li made his comments in a speech to a group of delegates at the congress. He warned that China's stability could be imperiled by delaying political change.
In recent official announcements, Communist Party leaders have said the party must strengthen internal debate and make selection of officials more competitive. But they have not shown any signs of contemplating wider changes.
Mr. Li challenged them to lead the way with major reforms starting at the top.
He proposed formally limiting the party's leaders to a maximum tenure of 10 years. He also proposed wide-ranging measures to limit the party's powers, begin introducing popular election of government officials and protect freedom of speech and independent rule of law.
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