Interview with Zhang Zhixin

My interview With Zhang Zhixin

By: Vasken Kebabjian

 

 

Q. Zhang Zhixin. Today is April 3rd, 1975. Tomorrow , April 4rth, you will be executed. What drove you to criticize Chairman Mao, to get you in the position you are today?

 A. I don’t like Chairman Mao, I never did. All of us “counterrevolutionaries” know that what he is doing is not right. So I stated my opposition on what I thought about him, and how I hated the violent factional struggles.

Q. Do you think that your imprisonment in prison for six years was fair?

A. No,no I do not. I shouldn’t have even been arrested in the first place. All I did was state my opposition about Chairman Mao, and everybody exaggerated. I really don’t know why I was in prison for so long . I also don’t know why they were keeping me there, and what they were trying to prove or accomplish. Overall, I don’t think it was fair.

Q. And how do you feel about being executed tomorrow?

A. Honestly, I don’t feel good. I don’t want to be executed. I mean I knew it would come , but never this early. I’m only 45, and I still have a long way ahead of me. But now I’m scared to die. But I will die with pride and honor, to show other counter revolutionaries to never stop fighting, and never give up.

Q. How do you think your family will feel about your death, and how will they take it?

 

A. I know that my son and husband will cry their eyes out. They will be scared, especially my son because he needs a mother. But my daughter is different. I know she will be sad, and maybe cry a little, but won’t be as hurt as my husband and son will be. She is more of a revolutionary, and probably won’t care to see me leave.

Q. Thank you for your time. I have one further question to ask you. What do you think people will talk about, or do after your death?

A. I know that people will be scared. I know they will be scared because if they criticize something, or someone, they will be put to death like I am . But I know they won’t stop secretly having gatherings and talking about these horrors, and I feel some people will be brave enough to stand up out of the crowd, and share their own, or others oppositions.