Draft regulation would preserve respect for Nanjing Massacre

NANJING — A draft regulation to protect the national memorial ceremony for victims of the Nanjing Massacre was submitted for deliberation at a session of the Standing Committee of the Nanjing municipal people’s congress, which opened on Tuesday in Jiangsu province.

Under the draft, speech that distorts or denies facts of the massacre — including behavior such as taking photos or videos of people dressed in Japanese uniforms at memorial sites, or appropriation of the names or portraits of victims, survivors or martyrs — will all be banned and punished.

It states that vehicles and ships should sound their horns and pedestrians should pause to mourn the deceased in silence for one minute during the ceremony on National Memorial Day. It also suggested compiling textbooks and organizing school activities related the national memorial.

The legislation will protect the memorial ceremonies, promote patriotism and enhance the cohesion of the Chinese nation, said Long Xiang, head of the Nanjing municipal people’s congress.

The Nanjing Massacre was carried out by Japanese troops after they captured the city on Dec 13, 1937. Over to six weeks, they killed 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers.

In February 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, designated Dec 13 as National Memorial Day for victims of the massacre to mourn the deceased and expose the war crimes committed by Japanese invaders.

CUI XIAO / FOR CHINA DAILY Visitors pay respect to the victims at the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in July.