Dr. Political Prisoner

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

CHEN ZIMING IS ONE OF CHINA'S LEADING POLITICAL PRISONers. Accused of helping to organize the 1989 student protests in Tiananmen Square, he's serving a 13- year sentence for "inciting counterrevolutionary propaganda" and "subversion." However, Chinese officials have decided to allow Chen to work toward his doctorate degree while in jail. Peking University has rejected Chen, but he awaits word from People's University. He plans to study the history of intellectuals in China or the history of Chinese civilization. Why are Chinese leaders allowing an alleged mastermind of student protests to get a higher education? To improve China's image.