DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=L-A CHINA PROTEST (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262546
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  As the U-S Congress prepares to vote next week 
on a bill that would normalize trade relations with 
China, opponents of the measure-- including trade 
unions -- are rallying around the country in protest.  
In Los Angeles Thursday, union officials enlisted the 
help of human rights advocates in a last-minute 
attempt to stop the measure's passage.  V-O-A's Mike 
O'Sullivan has details.

TEXT: For the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, 
which represents 800-thousand local workers, the main 
issue is jobs.  A garment-industry worker named Emilio 
Baca said he and 400 others lost their jobs at a 
clothing plant because of cheap imports from China.

            /// BACA SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER /// 

The Los Angeles Labor Federation's Miguel Contreras 
says the condition of workers in China is another 
argument against normal trade relations.

            /// CONTRERAS ACT ///

If we do nothing to pressure China, if we just reward 
them for what's going on in that country, we've seen 
what happened in T'ien-an-Men Square, we've seen 
what's going on with labor activists there, with human 
rights activists there.  We think that this accord 
should be used to pressure China to live up to a 
higher standard.

            /// END ACT ///

The Los Angeles community of Tibetan exiles also came 
to protest the pending legislation.

They brought a visiting Buddhist nun to describe the 
Chinese presence in Tibet.  In 1959, Chinese forces 
invaded Tibet and drove out the country's leader, the 
Dalai Lama.  Ani Pachen (AH-nee pah-CHEN) later spent 
24 years in a Chinese prison because of her demands 
for Tibetan autonomy.  

            /// PACHEN TIBETAN ACT FADES UNDER ///

The Buddhist nun accuses China of trying to destroy 
Tibetan culture.

Some prominent Chinese dissidents are calling for 
economic engagement with China.  The Hong Kong 
opposition leader Martin Lee, for example, supports 
the U-S bill to normalize trade relations, saying 
economic reform in China will lead to political 
changes.  

Human rights activist Harry Wu rejects that idea.  He 
told the Los Angeles labor gathering that U-S trade 
with China helps American businessmen, U-S 
corporations, and Chinese communist officials.

            /// WU ACT ///

      And also it will partially benefit the common 
      Chinese.  But most of the profit from the trade 
      and foreign investment is going to go to the 
      Chinese government.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Wu says a stronger Chinese government means more 
oppression for China's people. 

            /// REST OPT ///

This coalition of groups opposed to normalized trade 
with China is fighting a difficult battle.  The 
Clinton administration is pushing hard for the bill's 
passage, and the top presidential contenders -- 
Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush -- both 
support the measure.

Next week, the Los Angeles Labor Federation will send 
a delegation to Washington to try to sway 
congressional members from this part of the country.  
(Signed)

NEB/mo/gm  



18-May-2000 18:24 PM EDT (18-May-2000 2224 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.