Chai's statement, released by the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, recounts the night when the Chinese army crushed the protests and killed hundreds, some say, thousands, of activists who refused orders to vacate the square.

''That night, the Chinese government sent massive forces and tanks into the square with orders to shoot to kill. The shooting started around 10 p.m., and by 2 a.m. we were surrounded by the army. Two to three thousand defenseless students, workers, and Beijing citizens were killed,'' Chai said.

Chai said, being number four on the 21 most-wanted list after the Tiananmen massacre, she hid for 10 months before escaping to the United States with the help of more than 200 members of underground rescue groups.

She called on the current Chinese leadership to acknowledge the massacre and talk to those who suffered, to release political prisoners, repeal the blacklist and arrest warrants and create a citizens committee to publish a truthful history of the brutal crackdown at Tiananmen Square.

She also urged Beijing to study the political model of Taiwan and elsewhere, guarantee freedom of the press, allow free local elections and opposition parties.

''China's current leadership need not fear the well-being of themselves and their families if they embark on reform.

''In 1989, I hoped the Chinese government would realize and understand that different opinions can exist together peacefully. My hope 20 years later is that today's leaders will demonstrate the courage to change,'' she said.

Chai, who describes herself as an exile with little hope of ever returning to China, operates a software business in the United States.

==Kyodo
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