DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / HUMAN RIGHTS / CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260388
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The State Department says the United States 
has its best chance in years to get the U-N Human 
Rights Commission to pass a resolution criticizing 
China.  U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will 
appear before the commission in Geneva on Thursday.  
As V-O-A's Leta Hong Fincher reports, her presence is 
part of a strong U-S push to highlight China's human-
rights abuses.

TEXT:  Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh says 
this will be the first time in recent memory that a 
Secretary of State has spoken before the U-N Human 
Rights Commission.  Secretary Albright will speak 
about promoting democratic values, and using global 
mechanisms to encourage countries to play by global 
rules.  A focal point of her speech is likely to be 
China.  

The United States has sponsored a resolution 
criticizing China's human-rights record, which Mr. Koh 
says showed a marked deterioration across the board in 
1999.  In previous sessions of the human rights 
commission, China has been able to pass a no-action 
motion preventing any formal discussion of its human-
rights record.  Mr. Koh, who is the State Department's 
senior official on human-rights issues, says he 
believes this year could be different.

                  /// KOH ACT ///

      My guess is that the Chinese are extremely 
      concerned about the real prospects that the no-
      action motion will fail this year.  There's been 
      very intensified diplomatic activity on their 
      front, and my guess is that we'll be seeing both 
      short-term and long-term developments.

                  /// END ACT ///

The State Department's latest report on human rights 
in China showed a sharp deterioration last year.  The 
report says there was more repression of political 
dissent and religious freedom, more forced labor and 
restrictions on Internet access and less respect for 
the rights of women and Tibetans. 

The United States announced its decision to criticize 
China's human-rights record in mid-January, two months 
earlier than last year.  Mr. Koh says some countries 
which opposed a resolution critical of China in the 
past have been more receptive to the resolution this 
year.  Mr. Koh also told reporters the outcome of the 
resolution could be influenced by China's reaction to 
the recent presidential election in Taiwan.

                  /// 2ND KOH ACT ///

      We are deeply concerned about the treatment of 
      democratic dissenters in the People's Republic 
      of China and supportive of legitimate democratic 
      efforts elsewhere, particularly in Taiwan.  And 
      we believe that these ought to be respected, and 
      that should be one of the core themes of this 
      year's commission.

                     /// END ACT ///

This year's session of the U-N Human Rights Commission 
will run until April 28th.  Voting on the various 
resolutions, including the U-S resolution to criticize 
China, will not take place for another month.   
(Signed)

NEB/LHF/WTW



20-Mar-2000 14:00 PM EDT (20-Mar-2000 1900 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.