BEIJING, April 7 (Reuters) - One ofChina's most famous dissidents at the time ofBeijing's June 4, 1989, crackdown on pro-democracy activists has died in theUnited States, exiled dissidents said on Saturday.
FangLizhi, 76, lived inTucsonwhere he was a physics professor at theUniversity of Arizona. He died of natural causes, according to the Twitter feed of Wu Renhua, a dissident living in exile in theUnited States.
Exiled dissidentWang Dan, who topped a list of 21 most-wanted student leaders in 1989, confirmed the news on his Twitter feed after speaking to Fang’s wife,Li Shuxian.
"At this moment, no words can express my grief," Wang wrote. "FangLizhihas inspired the ’89 generation and has awakened the people’s yearning for human rights and democracy."
Fang and his wife sought refuge in theU.S. EmbassyinBeijingfor over a year after theChinese armycrushed pro-democracy demonstrations centred onBeijing’s Tiananmen Square.Chinathen accused them of counter-revolutionary crimes, tantamount to treason.
Fang had no public role in the protests, but decided to seek shelter after pro-government supporters burned effigies of him.
In June 1990, in a concession toWashington,Beijingallowed Fang to leaveChinato seek medical treatment abroad.Chinasaid the couple had shown "signs of repentance".
Fang never returned.
Fang campaigned vigorously in the West for countries to maintain pressure on theChinese governmentto respect human rights and permit dissent.
In 1986, he emerged as an eloquent advocate of radical political change inChina, declaring science should not be determined by Marxist theory.
Fang was quoted as saying in 1987 that the Chinese Communist Party could not boast of a single success in nearly 40 years of rule. "Marxism…is like a worn dress that must be put aside," he said.
His constant challenge to the Party apparently incurred the wrath ofChina’s former paramount leader,Deng Xiaoping. In a secret speech to central committee members in 1987, Deng singled him out by name for expulsion from the Party.
Fang, along with several intellectuals identified withChina’s dissident movement, was invited to a banquet with former U.S. PresidentGeorge Bushduring a visit in February 1989, but police barred him from attending.
