"We are currently witnessing one of the most relentless crackdowns since 1989 against people who are peacefully exercising fundamental freedoms of expression and association," Amnesty International USA, January 11, 2000
1/13/2000
Monitoring News of the Persecution of Falun Gong
Contact Gail Rachlin at Rachlin Management & Media Group: (212) 501-8080
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- UNITED STATES TO PRESS U.N. RESOLUTION DENOUNCING CHINA'S RECORD
- CHINA OPPOSES RESOLUTION, SAYS IT WILL NOT AFFECT WTO BID
- HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY LOBBYING BY U.S. IS NEEDED
UNITED STATES TO PRESS FOR UN RESOLUTION ON DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA; CITES FALUN GONG EXPERIENCE
The United States Government appears to be willing to get tough on China's human rights violations. The Los Angeles Times (1/11/00) led with the proposed resolution: "The United States said Tuesday that it will introduce a resolution condemning China's human rights record at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, a move certain to complicate Washington's troubled relations with Beijing. The Wall Street Journal calls the move part of a "delicate dance" to "balance" trade policy interests with human rights concerns.
"The decision to go forward with this resolution at the Commission is based on the fact that the government of China's human rights record has continued to deteriorate," State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said. He cited as evidence China's crackdown on political dissent, a campaign to suppress the Falun Gong, intensified controls on unregistered church groups and a tightening of controls on minority groups, including Tibetans. Tuesday's move marks the ninth time since 1990 that the United States has tried to muster enough support within the 53-member Commission to censure China. Only once, in 1995, did the effort come close to success, when the measure was defeated by a single vote.
WILL THE RESOLUTION INFLUENCE AND HELP CHINA?
The New York Times (1/11/00) indicated that the censure of China may be part of a strategy to help China. "Although the State Department announcement today may annoy Chinese leaders, it may make it easier for the administration to win Congressional endorsement for the trade deal, which would allow China to join the World Trade Organization in exchange for dramatic reforms in Chinese trade policy. Several lawmakers have suggested that they will oppose the trade deal as coddling a nation with an abysmal human rights record. The announcement today appears to have been timed to show Congress that the administration is prepared to get tough on China's record at the same time that it is pushing for closer trade ties. ''One can have a relationship with China and still have a fundamental disagreement with China on specific issues,'' Mr. Rubin said.
CHINA CONDEMNS HUMAN RIGHTS CENSURE BUT CLAIMS WTO BID NOT AFFECTED
BEIJING, Jan 13 (AFP) - China on Thursday said the United States' plan to sponsor a resolution denouncing China's human rights record at an upcoming United Nations meeting will not affect its efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Nonetheless, China is demanding the United States reverse its decision to table the resolution at the meeting scheduled for March.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY LOBBYING IN EUROPE NEEDED
Washington, D.C. January 11, 2000 Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) today praised the Clinton Administration's decision to sponsor a resolution critical of China's human rights record at the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in March. "We applaud the Administration for making a decision now that will enable it to lobby other Commission members to join the U.S. in challenging the deteriorating state of human rights in China," said Stephen Rickard, AIUSA Legislative Director. "We encourage other Commission members to support this effort." Amnesty International has also made China one of its top priorities for this session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.
Other human rights groups also hailed the decision: "It's a good sign," said Gay McDougall, executive director of the Washington-based International Human Rights Law Group. "A lot of planning and prior consultation is necessary if there is going to be any hope of getting a resolution through." Mike Jendrzejczyk, Asia director at the Washington office of Human Rights Watch said: "This is very encouraging, but what needs to happen now is that [President] Clinton and [Vice President] Al Gore get on the phone to ensure European Union support as soon as possible." Foreign ministers from the EU's 15 member states are likely to take up the issue at the political level when they meet later this month. Although the EU backed the U.S.-sponsored 1995 resolution that nearly passed, America's closest allies have tended to be lukewarm toward the idea of condemning China in Geneva.
WHAT IS FALUN DAFA / FALUN GONG?
Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) is what Chinese tradition calls a "cultivation practice". Falun Gong helps improve health and overall mental and physical wellness through a series of high-level easy to do exercises and meditations. A person's practice deepens as they study the universal laws/principles based on Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Millions of practitioners have reported dramatically improved health and a deepened spiritual awareness. All Falun Dafa activities are free of charge.
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Category: Falun Dafa in the Media
