— Central Executive Committee Instruction  In the past, certain worker and peasant elements, owing to their weak political awareness, were deceived into joining the AB Group, the Social Democratic Party, the Reorganization Faction, the Trotskyist faction, and other counterrevolutionary organizations. Some, having been coerced or misled, defected to the enemy side only to later return; upon their own initiative, they surrendered to the Soviet government. Others, after being arrested by the government, truthfully disclosed information about counterrevolutionary organizations and were permitted by the authorities to reform themselves. Still others were duped by counterrevolutionaries into joining disguised counterrevolutionary groups, or were forced by White Army pressure to defect before eventually coming back. With regard to these workers and peasants who had joined counterrevolutionary organizations or defected, no clear regulations existed at all levels of the Soviet governments on whether their civil rights should be deprived, leading to difficulties in handling their cases during elections. In some localities, they were simply excluded from the electoral process, which hindered both the protection of workers’ and peasants’ interests and the thorough eradication of counterrevolutionary organizations.

Therefore, this government hereby issues the present instruction, setting forth the following explicit provisions: All persons who meet any of the following criteria shall be declared to retain their civil rights and, during elections, shall be entitled to participate on an equal footing with ordinary workers and peasants, possessing both the right to vote and the right to stand for election:

(1) Poor worker and peasant elements who previously joined counterrevolutionary organizations (such as the AB Group, the Social Democratic Party, the Reorganization Faction, the Trotskyist faction, etc.), but who, upon becoming politically conscious, voluntarily surrendered to the Soviet government and fully reported everything they knew about those organizations.

(2) Poor worker and peasant elements who, having been deceived by counterrevolutionaries, joined various disguised counterrevolutionary groups (such as the Love League, the Sex Equality Cooperative, the Gourmet Committee, the Seedling Committee, the One-Heart League, the Spirit League, and the like), were subsequently arrested by the Soviet government following confessions extracted by the AB Group, the Social Democratic Party, and others. After undergoing a period of reformation and rehabilitation, it is determined that they did not knowingly join these organizations as counterrevolutionary enterprises; rather, they were induced to do so out of personal ties or momentary indulgence, and now fully recognize that they have been misled. They have accordingly severed their connections with such disguised counterrevolutionary groups.

(3) Subservient poor worker and peasant members who joined counterrevolutionary organizations (such as the AB Group, the Social Democratic Party, the Reorganization Faction, the Trotskyist faction, etc.), and who, upon arrest, truthfully revealed details about those organizations. Having been granted an opportunity for reformation by the Soviet government, they have completed the prescribed period of rehabilitation, clearly understood their past mistakes, and demonstrated genuine political awakening through their actions.

(4) Worker and peasant members who affiliated themselves with counterrevolutionary organizations, were arrested by the anti-counterrevolutionary organs, released after interrogation, and whose sentence depriving them of civil rights has since expired, thereby restoring their full civil rights.

(5) In areas along the boundary between Red and White zones, poor worker and peasant elements who, under deception and pressure from White Bandits, the Young Pioneers, and other reactionary forces, defected to the enemy side, but who have now genuinely come to their senses, recognized their past errors, and are actively striving to participate in the revolutionary struggle.

However, principal figures, leaders, and staunchly counterrevolutionary individuals within counterrevolutionary organizations (such as the AB Group, the Social Democratic Party, the Reorganization Faction, the Trotskyist faction, etc.)—even if they are poor workers or peasants—who fail to demonstrate sincere remorse in their conduct shall have their civil rights revoked and shall be absolutely barred from participating in elections.

These provisions are intended, on the one hand, to safeguard the political rights of poor workers and peasants, and, on the other hand, to facilitate, by all available means, the thorough elimination of all counterrevolutionary organizations and conspiracies concealed within the Soviet base areas. It is hereby ordered that all levels of the Soviet governments strictly comply with these instructions and publicly announce them to the masses.

Issued under the authority of Chairman Mao Zedong, Vice Chairmen Xiang Ying and Zhang Guotao.