The Anti-Rightist Movement

In 1957, National Day marchers brandished a sign that said "Struggle against the Rightists resolutely"


The Anti-Rightist Movement was established as a measure against the critics from The Hundred Flowers Campaign. Mao Zedong spearheaded the project and oppressed those whom had criticized his decisions for the Hundred Flowers Campaign. Mao could not accept the opinion of the other people and is dogma became conspicuous. The campaign was to rid China of the intellects as they were a threat to Mao’s vision. An estimated 550,000 people were labelled as “rightists” and were punished. Because of the movement and also because of Mao’s strong overthrowing presence, the intellectuals were shunned by the masses and purged from their villages or cities. Many also turned others in for questioning and some were held captive in labour camps for the majority of the movement’s years.

50 or so years have passed since the reform and many have come out trying to speak of the harsh life they had endured during those turbulent times but majority have been silenced. The China government as we see it is largely capitalistic but still retains their socialist view on censorship. It has also been recorded that Chinese officials have ordered recollections of the past to be destroyed and those that aren’t are not allowed into the public eye. Interviews of the survivors from the Anti-Rightist Movement can be conducted but could be severely censored when in China. Many books have also been published regarding the author’s person accounts of how they felt about the reform and what they were ordered to do if they were labelled as anti-rightist.


Zhang Bojun, the then transport minister, was denounced by his colleagues during the Anti-Rightist Movement.



Many intellectuals were "pidou", or criticised and struggled against.


In 1988, a retiree journalist Dai Huang published a biography which included the 21 years he spent in labour camps after he was labelled as a “rightist”. His crime was criticizing Mao’s cult of personality. However, it has subsequently been banned from all libraries in China and publishing authorities have banned him from reprinting the book again. A Beijing Court has also rejected Dai’s lawsuit against the publishers, where he challenged the ban of his book.
The CCP’s Central Propaganda Department convened a meeting in the beginning of 2007. They laid out the ground rules on China’s media and publications censorship issues. The Anti-Rightist campaign was brought up and was subsequently listed as taboo as it is a threat to the leaders of today. Below is a long excerpt containing the decisions made for the censorship of history in China:

-This year is the 50th anniversary of the anti-right movement. As events over the past few years demonstrate, many people bearing dissatisfaction with The Party have, through various guises, depicted and glamorized the "anti-right" period of history. Of these people, many are well-known scholars, but they have but one purpose: to smear the name of the Communist Party. For this reason, no memoirs or books regarding the "anti-right" period of history are allowed to be published, and any articles regarding "the anti-right movement" may not be printed.

-Based on practical experience from the past few years, some people in society are "breaking through" the Cultural Revolution, wholly disavowing Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought, attempting and then achieving their comprehensive goal of disavowing the Communist Party of China. For this reason, not only must this kind of article not be published, but vigilance must also be increased.

-Starting today, all historical problems must be in accordance with: "The Resolution on a Number of The Party's Historical Problems Since the Founding of the Country" (hereafter, "The Historical Resolution"), review treatises from the older generation of revolutionaries like Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yun, as well as embodying the principles of "Looking Ahead in Solidarity". Criticism of historical events must adhere to "The Historical Resolution", and no so-called "first-hand material" or previously published articles, including those from People's Daily that violate The Historical Resolution may not be used as justification. Starting today, all books and articles that violate the spirit of The Historical Resolution may not be published.

-Starting today all specialized accounts published by current and past Central Government leaders must be in accordance with The Historical Resolution.
-Except for The Central Government Document Publishing House, all unauthorized specialized accounts and information regarding Central Government Leaders may not be quoted, compiled or distributed within the country.

-Articles regarding memoirs by current and former Central Government leaders, including those written by the authors in question, their families, secretaries and friends must be applied for by the person in question themselves through the Press and Publication Administration. Those not approved for publication must not be privately printed in any form, or transmitted via electronic means, and especially must not be published overseas.

Here are some links to which I find summarises the Anti-Rightist Campaign:

An abstract of A Narrow Escape from Death: My Journey as a 'Rightist' by Dai Huang.
A petition for the redress over the Anti-Rightist Campaign
China since the “Gang of Four”, Chapter 5 pg 174 onwards.
An opposition viewpoint which supports Mao's movement

The Anti-Rightist Movement I feel became a crutch for the Chinese politicians to be supported on when they feel threatened or insecure about their political abilities. Time and time again, they have disregarded intellectuals and consistently abuse their power to censor anything that they find defamatory or politically incorrect. Although China is becoming a global superpower which is on the borderline of overthrowing America economically, there is a vast space for improvement from the Chinese government. It is my personal opinion that I find China to be relentless in her pursuit for power and Chinese officials must be gentler in the pursuit of control. Otherwise, they certainly do not learn from past mistakes and I expect a great upheaval down the road and that may very well lead to another reform which could result in a chain reaction and this cycle might never stop.

Credits:
Anti-Rightist Movement Photos
Excerpts from Meeting of the CCP CPD