Published by: World Tibet Network News,Saturday, December 23, 1995

Media Update on China in the UN Human Rights Commission

(From International Campaign for Tibet, Washington, D.C. December 21, 1995

In a joint letter on December 21, 1995, prominent NGOs and individuals have asked President Clinton to support a resolution concerning China's human rights practices at the forthcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, beginning in Geneva in March 1996. "This year the United States must again demonstrate its leadership role in the international community and spearhead the campaign to ensure passage of a strong resolution regarding the human rights of the Chinese and Tibetan people," the letter said.

The Clinton Administration will shortly decide on the US position at the Commission on Human Rights. Last year, a resolution on China's human rights practices was defeated in the Commission by a narrow margin of one vote. Signatories of the letter include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International League for Human Rights, The Laogai Research Foundation, The Temple of Understanding, Greater Washington Network for Democracy in China, Human Rights in China, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, International Mahavir Jain Mission and the International Campaign for Tibet. Media Moghul Henry Luce III, too, has signed the letter.

Pressure is mounting on the United States to work actively toward such a resolution. The recent sentencing of Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng and China's interference in the selection of Tibet's Panchen Lama have dashed the United State's hope that China would improve its human rights record following the delinking of human rights from trade. The United States Senate has already asked President Clinton to pursue a resolution in the Commission. Freedom House, in its annual report released on December 19, 1995, has said repression continued in China in 1995 with Tibet being listed among "the worst territories" concerning human rights situation.

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December 21, 1995

President Bill Clinton

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, are writing to urge you to make a strong commitment to working towards the successful adoption of a resolution concerning human rights in China and Tibet at the 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights.

Historically, the United States has taken a leadership role in promoting human rights around the world. In 1994, following your decision to de-link China's human rights practices from renewal of most-favored-nation trading status, your Administration announced a four part strategy for addressing human rights concerns in China and Tibet.

One of the most important planks of this strategy outlined the expansion of U.S. involvement in multilateral efforts to improve human rights in China and Tibet by "insist[ing] that the UN Human Rights Commission pass a resolution dealing with the serious human rights abuses in China." Mr. President, it is critical that the United States now follow through with this pledge.

As you are aware, last year a resolution on China's human rights practices was narrowly defeated at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights. Another vote will occur this year, and with active and aggressive U.S. support, this resolution has an excellent chance of passage.

It is well known that the human rights situation in China and Tibet has substantially deteriorated in the recent past. The harsh sentencing of Wei Jingsheng for promoting human rights and democracy and the interference in the selection of Tibet's Panchen Lama are only two of the most blatant examples of China's complete disregard for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of those under its control. Thousands of political prisoners are in detention in China and Tibet, while many leading dissident intellectuals, academics, and religious figures have been ruthlessly repressed, intimidated or imprisoned while being denied minimal due process.

We understand that your Administration will make a decision shortly as to whether it will hold China accountable for its human rights practices by actively pursuing a resolution at the UN Human Rights Commission. This year the United States must again demonstrate its leadership role in the international community and spearhead the campaign to ensure passage of a strong resolution regarding the human rights of the Chinese and Tibetan people. This will not only benefit the millions of individuals suffering under the Chinese government, but will also add credibility to your Administration's foreign policy and stated commitment to human rights.

Sincerely,

Jim O'Dea,

Director- Washington Office

Amnesty International

Maranda Yen Shieh,

President

Greater Washington Network for Democracy in China

Xiao Qiang,

Executive Director

Human Rights in China

Kenneth Roth,

Executive Director

Human Rights Watch

Xing Cheng,

President

Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars

Rachel Lostumbo,

Director of Government Relations

International Campaign for Tibet

Marjorie Lightman,

Executive Director

International League for Human Rights

Bawa Jain,

United Nations Representative

International Mahavir Jain Mission

Harry Wu,

Executive Director

The Laogai Research Foundation

Lawyers Committee for Human Rights

Leila and Henry Luce, III

Kerry Kennedy Cuomo

Founder,

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights

James J. Silk,

Director

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights

Very Rev. James Parks Morton,

President;

Joan Kirby,

Executive Director

Temple of Understanding

cc: Secretary Warren Christopher