DATE=4/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247683
TITLE=CHINA / TIBET RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  CHINESE AND TIBETAN ACTIVISTS ARE APPEALING TO WESTERN 
GOVERNMENTS TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON CHINA TO IMPROVE ITS HUMAN 
RIGHTS RECORD.  LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THE ACTIVISTS, WHO ARE 
ATTENDING THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING, SAY THEY 
WELCOME THE INTENTION OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE A 
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING CHINA FOR VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF ITS 
CITIZENS.

TEXT:  TWO FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS, LIU NIANCHUN AND WEI 
JINGSHENG, ARE IN GENEVA TO TELL THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 
ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL THE REPRESSION WHICH EXISTS IN CHINA.  BOTH 
SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN CHINESE PRISONS BECAUSE OF EXERCISING, 
WHAT THEY SAY ARE THEIR DEMOCRATIC, POLITICAL, AND CIVIL RIGHTS. 

THE DISSIDENTS SAY THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA HAS BECOME
WORSE SINCE THE MASSACRE AT TIANANMEN SQUARE IN BEIJING 10 YEARS 
AGO.  THEY SAY THEY OWE THEIR FREEDOM TO INTENSE MEDIA PRESSURE 
ON THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.  BUT THEY SAY THOUSANDS OF OTHER 
PEOPLE ARE STILL LANGUISHING IN CHINESE PRISONS.  

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A PRIVATE RIGHTS GROUP, HUMAN RIGHTS IN
CHINA, XIAO QIANG, ESTIMATES CHINA HOLDS ABOUT FIVE-THOUSAND 
POLITICAL PRISONERS.  HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO DEPRIVE
CHINESE PEOPLE OF THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF 
ASSOCIATION AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

                      ///  QUIANG ACT  ///

         AND THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO BE HERE TO URGE 
         INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO PUT PRESSURE ON CHINESE 
         GOVERNMENT TO OPEN IT UP ON A POLITICAL DIMENSION AND TO
         TRULY RESPECT THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF HUMAN 
         RIGHTS NOT JUST GIVE LIP SERVICE. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

ON MONDAY, THREE TIBETAN ACTIVISTS BEGAN WHAT THEY CALL AN 
INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE IN FRONT OF THE UNITED NATIONS TO 
PROTEST CHINA'S POLICIES.  A TIBETAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, 
NGAWANG DRAKMARGYAPON, SAYS CHINA HAS BEEN GUILTY OF HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS IN TIBET FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.  HE SAYS CHINA IS 
TRYING TO DESTROY THE TIBETAN PEOPLE'S RELIGION AND CULTURE.

                   ///  DRAKMARGYAPON ACT  ///

         TODAY, THROUGH THE POLICY OF POPULATION TRANSFER OF 
         CHINESE SETTLERS AND THE COERCED BIRTH CONTROL POLICY OF
         TIBETAN WOMEN IS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHIC 
         COMPOSITION OF TIBET.  AND THIS WE VIEW AS A VERY 
         SERIOUS SITUATION. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST SAYS TIBET IS  NOT  SEEKING 
INDEPENDENCE FROM CHINA.  IT JUST WANTS TO GOVERN ITS OWN AFFAIRS
WITHIN AN AUTONOMOUS REGION.  HE SAYS TIBET'S SPIRITUAL LEADER, 
THE DALAI LAMA, HAS BEEN SEEKING A DIALOGUE WITH CHINA FOR 20 
YEARS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.  BUT, HE SAYS CHINA CONTINUES TO 
REFUSE ALL OVERTURES.  (SIGNED)  

NEB/LS/JWH

06-Apr-99 10:15 AM EDT (1415 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.