Jiang Must Step Down

Some leftist faction within the Chinese Communist Party filed a formal request to the party calling for resignation of President Jiang Zemin last month, Japanese daily Yomiuri reported on August 29 citing sources close to Beijing.

An official letter titled “abolition of permanent party membership in the 16th Party Congress,” was delivered to the communist party’s central committee members including President Jiang on July 1, signed as “in behalf of senior members, officials and professors”.

The letter said, “The 16th National Congress will mark a generational shift in the party and honorable retirements by leaders aged over 70, in particular, over 75.”

The Japanese daily noted that the letter, believed to be a work of leftist scholars, reflects growing concern that Jiang might try to hold onto power.

Earlier, some hardliners within the party also sent a letter insisting that Jiang step down held accountable for economic disparity and massive layoffs. The letter implicating Shung Ping, senior member and patron of Vice President Hujintao, urges “President Jiang to hand over his power to Vice President and step down.”

Another letter written by three scholars criticizes Jiang’s policy harshly, “Growth disparity is prevailing due to the government economic policy ignoring such key social factors as employment and regional differences.”