How an assistant librarian became a thorn in Beijing's side

WHEN Han Dongfang graduated from the rundown Beijing High School Number 124 in the summer of 1980, his prospects were bleak.

Under Deng Xiaoping's new regime, ''degree fever'' was all the rage, yet Han decided not to try for college. Instead, he took his mother's advice and joined the Public Security Soldiers Corps - predecessor of the modern People's Armed Police.

After basic training at the Qinghe prison labour camp, near Tianjin, he spent three years as a guard at Tuanhe, a similar camp south of Beijing.

Han proved an excellent soldier, and he was soon put in charge of a squad of 12 men. His superiors forecast a rosy future until the time came for the camp's annual review. Squad leaders were expected to go up to the platform, in front of all the officersand men, and deliver suitable platitudes.

But Han got straight to the point. ''My men's main problem is food,'' he announced. ''The officers are stealing a third of our food allowance. This is in direct contravention of Chairman Mao's line that officers and men are equal and must share both sufferings and good times. My second point concerns cruel punishment. My men are beaten and abused at will by their superior officers.'' The next day, the battalion commandant pulled out Han's application for Party membership and tore it into small pieces. ''Han Dongfang will become a Party member over my dead body,'' he said.

Han served out his three years at Tuanhe, fighting to the end for the rights of his men. When he left in September 1983, his squad members nominated him for a commendation as an ''advanced individual in building socialist spiritual civilisation''.