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Jail reduced him to a 'talking dog'
By Lin Zhaowei
The Straits Times
Tuesday, Nov 06, 2012
SINGAPORE - Prison guards made him squat before letting him talk to them. They also forced him to eat sitting in that same demeaning position under the sun in a circle of prisoners.
Former Straits Times (ST) chief China correspondent Ching Cheong endured that kind of treatment and worse while detained by the Chinese government from 2005 to 2008.
"Life in the Chinese jail was extremely dehumanising," he said. "Mind you, the jail where I was held was already considered by Chinese standards a 'civilised' one."
Mr Ching, who now writes freelance for The Straits Times and The Sunday Times, was speaking yesterday at the launch of the English and simplified Chinese versions of his book, My 1,000 Days Ordeal, at the Singapore Writers Festival. The book details his time in detention over espionage charges, which he disputes to this day.
Life in prison was so depressing that he even contemplated suicide.
"For the first time, I came to realise the meaning of yu, the Chinese word for prison... because in prison, they reduce you to a dog that talks," he said. The Chinese character yu has components which mean speech and dog.
But he said he does not bear any grudges against the Chinese authorities. He credits that to his conversion to Christianity in 2007.
"I thought I was an upright man... (so) I felt a very deep-seated hatred... But Christianity helped me dissolve the hatred through love and forgiveness," he told the audience of around 50 people.
"If I had walked out of prison with this hatred and sense of vengeance, even if I'm physically free, my mind would still be imprisoned."
Mr Ching, 62, started his journalism career in 1974 with the pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po. He left the paper in 1989 after the Tiananmen incident. He joined The Straits Times in 1996 and retired in 2009.
Mr Ching cited two key motivations for the book, which was first published in Hong Kong in February in traditional Chinese script.
First, he wanted to make use of his case in hopes that change may some day be effected to eliminate such miscarriages of justice.
"The miscarriage of justice is so common in China that even the ruling Communist Party coined a special term for it - yuan jia cuo an."
Mr Ching also wanted to remind Hong Kongers to appreciate and safeguard the legal system and freedom they now enjoy.
In summing up, he said he now looks inwards. "During my ordeal, I have learnt to turn every atrocity into ingredients that nourish my spiritual power. Through the book, I hope to share with readers how to overcome a difficult time in life."
Mr Ching has started writing a second book on his detention but declined to reveal details, citing political sensitivities. He told The Sunday Times yesterday he expects to finish it by the end of next year.
Telco executive Sean Goh, 32, was among many who queued up for an autograph for his copy of Mr Ching's book yesterday. "I have read Ching Cheong's columns on Hong Kong and China for many years, and they are very insightful."
My 1,000 Days Ordeal is available at major bookstores at $25.15 with GST, as well as through the Straits Times Press website www.stpressbooks.com.sg and Amazon.com. On Sunday, Mr Ching was at a panel discussion at 2.30pm at the National Museum.
