Page 231 - Communist Chinas Policy of Oppression in East Turkestan

here have been two main stages

in Chinese communism: The Mao
period and the Deng period.
Although Mao and Deng differed in the-
ory and practice, looking at them from a wider perspective,
based on the criteria of human rights and democracy, two very important
similarities exist in the two periods. Throughout both periods the country
was kept under the strict control of the Communist Party. The present
rulers are also still continuing to repress the Chinese people under that
same despotic regime.
The Mao period lasted from 1949 to 1977, and witnessed the deaths of
millions of people from starvation and the killing of millions of others.
Strict discipline prevailed in all areas of life, little individual freedom was
allowed, and whole communities were kept in line by violence and oppres-
sion. Food could only be purchased with coupons, only one type of cos-

tume was allowed, and people could only work in the fields and the
factories allocated by the state. The Communist Party decided who could
marry whom, where they would live, and how many children they could
have.
Although food today can be purchased without coupons, and people
can wear what they want and visit neighboring cities, these
economic-based changes have not led to any change in the
mentality of the party. The Chinese people still can
enjoy freedom only within the limits set out by the
Communist Party. In fact, the latest economic
changes began when the Communist
Party allowed private invest-