Wei Jingsheng Foundation News and Article Release Issue: A55-L4
魏京生基金会新闻与文章发布号：A55-L4
Release Date: March 14, 2004
发布日：2004年3月14日
Topic: Mourning Labor Leader and Democracy Activist, Mr. ZHAO Pinlu
标题：魏京生基金会就当代著名工运领袖赵品潞的去世表示哀悼
Original Language Version: English (Chinese version at the end)
此号以英文为准（英文在前，中文在后）
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The Wei Jingsheng Foundation Expresses its Condolence for the Chinese labor leader, Mr. Zhao PinLu
The Wei Jingsheng Foundation expresses it great sorrow for the death of Mr. ZHAO Pinlu, a great Chinese labor movement leader and democracy advocator. Mr. Zhao passed away on March 9, 2004, in New York. His funeral and services will be held on March 27, 2004.
Zhao was born on October 13, 1956. In May 1989, he founded and organized the first real independent workers' union under the Chinese Communist rule – The Capitol Workers' Independent Union. Subsequently, after June 4, 1989, he was put on the Most Wanted List for his workers and democracy activities. He went underground for more than three years until he ultimately escaped China, a homeland he loved so much yet under a government that would not tolerate him to return.
In New York, Zhao endured a difficult exile life but kept his optimism. His kindness, generosity and tolerance have inspired many. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer, he still tried to catch various human rights and democracy movement events.
Ciping Huang, the executive director of the Wei Jingsheng Foundation, expresses her great admiration for Zhao, for his continued effort under an extreme hardship as well as his generosity to others. "I felt the loss of a colleague, as well as a close friend."
Huang recalls: "The first time I got to know Zhao was when he participated in our Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars' congress in Washington, DC, as our guest. He came to thank me as the then president of the IFCSS for the financial help and tuition he received from us. Later, after he was diagnosed with cancer and in need of money, I learned that he had great sympathy and paid generously for those Chinese laborers who have a tough life as new immigrants. What a great guy with compassion! I remember he hoped to return to China one day, and I told him that we will fight together to get our right of return back. When I asked him for his experiences and knowledge of the Chinese workers' movement and his role during that time, he said: ‘don't tangle with those old glories; we should keep working toward a future when our Chinese workers do have their own rights and freedom to organize their own real and independent unions for their own rights.’ I just cannot believe these were his last words during our last meeting."
Although due to pre-arranged schedules they are unable to attend Zhao's funeral, both Mr. WEI Jingsheng and Ms. Ciping Huang are serving as members on Zhao's funeral committee. A memorial fund has been established to aid Zhao's young son, widow, and aging parents. All donations will be strictly used for the funeral costs, memorial service, and otherwise passed on to his family. Donations may be mailed directed to:
Zhao Pinlu Memorial Fund
United Bank
1801 Reston
PKY
Reston VA
20190-9884
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中文版
Wei Jingsheng Foundation News and Article Release Issue: A55-L4
魏京生基金会新闻与文章发布号：A55-L4
Release Date: March 14, 2004
发布日：2004年3月14日
Topic: Mourning Labor Leader and Democracy Activist, Mr. ZHAO Pinlu
标题：魏京生基金会就当代著名工运领袖赵品潞的去世表示哀悼
此号以英文为准（英文在前，中文在后）
若有阅读中文的困难，请直接访问我们的网站：www.weijingsheng.org
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魏京生基金会就当代著名工运领袖赵品潞的去世表示哀悼
魏京生基金会对著名中国工运领袖赵品潞去世表示哀悼。赵品潞先生于二零零四年三月九日在美国纽约病逝。他的追悼会将于二零零四年三月二十七日在美国纽约举行。
赵品潞，1956年10月13日生于北京。1989年5月中下旬，在中国政府宣布北京市戒严之后，赵品潞先生毅然决然投入了当时如火如荼的民主运动。他一方面组织北京工人市民们声援学生们的绝食和静坐抗议活动，另一方面，为组织工人自治联合会呕心沥血地工作。他参与了北京工自联章程的制定，积极地联络其他社会团体。通过民主选举与他人一起正式创立了中国共产党统治中国后的第一个独立工会组织--首都工人自治联合会，赵品潞被选为由5人构成的集体领导机构-常务委员会-委员之一。
在中国政府用武力镇压了89年民主运动之后，赵品潞先生走上了艰难的流亡之路。他在中国辗转3年有余，后在群众的保护之下，逃脱了政府的追捕，并于1992年10月逃抵香港，最后在香港爱国民主人士的安排之下到美国定居。
中国民主运动的过程是艰难的，参与中国民主运动的志士们的个人生活更为艰难。在这双重的艰难中，赵品潞一方面靠自己的双手维系自己的生活，另一方面仍然坚持民主自由的理念，为中国的民主自由事业而奔波。赵品潞在美国流亡期间，曾担任国际华人工人联合会主席和中国自由民主党副主席职务，他也是自由中国运动的创始人之一。
魏京生基金会执行主任黄慈萍在谈到赵品潞时很为感叹地说：她对赵品潞最为敬佩的是他的豪爽与大方，以及在艰苦条件下的乐观精神。“我们失去的不仅仅是一个志同道合的同志，也是一个很好的朋友。”
赵品潞纪念基金帐号业已设立。欢迎各界人士踊跃捐款。全部捐款将用于追悼纪念活动，骨灰运回北京安葬事宜，救助他的遗孀等。捐赠支票(Pay to the order of)请写明Zhao Pinlu Memorial Fund， 现金和支票可转交给赵品潞治丧筹备委员会，支票也可直接寄：
United Bank
1801 Reston PKY
Reston VA 20190-9884
赵品潞治丧筹备委员会的联系人：李进进(212) 334-7200，叶宁(301)6417345， 连胜德(703) 864-9304。
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