DATE=4/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260966
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  Forty human rights organizations and 
prominent Chinese dissidents are urging the 
international community to support a resolution 
condemning human rights violations in China.  
Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the resolution, 
which is sponsored by the United States, will be 
submitted at the United Nations Human Rights 
Commission next week.

TEXT:  The human rights activists allege China is 
waging a widespread campaign of political and 
religious persecution.  They say the victims are 
members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, 
evangelical Christians, Roman Catholics, 
Buddhists and Muslims.

They call on the United Nation Commission on 
Human Rights to vote against China's so-called 
"no-action motion."  This is a procedural measure 
that China has used for several years to prevent 
a resolution condemning its human rights policies 
from coming to a vote.

Liu Quing is president of Human Rights in China 
and a veteran of the Democracy Wall Movement.  He 
says the human rights situation in China has 
worsened.  He says more people are being arrested 
and many are being tortured in prison.  He says 
China allows virtually no domestic dissent and is 
sensitive to outside criticism.  He speaks 
through an interpreter.

/// QUING ACT. BEGIN WITH CHINESE AND FADE UNDER 
///

      If there has been some sort of improvement 
      during the 1990's, it is entirely due to 
      the fact that pressure has been exerted.  
      So it is absolutely necessary to continue 
      to exert pressure on China if we want to 
      see more progress in that respect.  This is 
      why we insist so strongly that you should 
      all push for the resolution condemning 
      Chinese human rights violations in this 
      United Nations.  

            /// END ACT ///

Wang Dan was a student leader in the 1989 
uprising in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.  He spent 
seven years in prison for his human rights 
activities.  He now lives in the United States.  
He believes it is important for the West to 
establish close cultural and economic ties with 
China.  But, he says, the West must continue to 
press China to improve its human rights record.  

The European Union has not yet announced whether 
it will support the United States backed 
resolution on China at the U-N Human Rights 
Commission.  Executive Director of Human Rights 
in China, Xiao Qiang asks why not?

            /// QIANG ACT ///

      France upholds human rights 
      and democratic values in the world.  I 
      respect a great deal.  I'm not proud.  But, 
      so far what I have heard, the French China 
      policy on human rights in terms of blocking 
      European Union's decision from co-
      sponsoring this resolution. 

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Qiang says it is crucial for the U-N Human 
Rights Commission to censure China's human rights 
record.  He says the commission will  not  be 
fulfilling its mandate if it once again fails to 
do so. (Signed)

NEB/LS/GE/KL 



05-Apr-2000 11:11 AM EDT (05-Apr-2000 1511 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.