Published by World Tibet Network News - Wednesday, December 27, 1995

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (AFP), Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have written to President Bill Clinton urging his support of a resolution on China's human rights practices when the UN Human Rights Commission meets in March in Geneva.

"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," said the letter sent Thursday to the White House.

The signatories, which include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International League for Human Rights, reminded Clinton of his pledge last year to push for a resolution against China at the UN committe's meeting, stressing the importance that he "now follow through with this pledge."

Clinton adopted a four part strategy for addressing human rights concerns in China and Tibet after his decision in mid-1994 to de-link China's human rights practices from a renewal of China's most-favored-nation trading status.

The NGOs cited as "blatant examples" of China's disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms the harsh sentencing of prominent Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, and Beijing's interference in the selection of Tibet's Panchen Lama.

Human Rights Watch in China reported here Thursday the detention in China of three pro-democracy activists who had petitioned for the release of Wei, who was sentenced last week to 14 years' imprisonment on charges of seeking to overthrow the government.

A State Department spokesman voiced concern at the report, while stressing that independent confirmation was not immediately available.

In a separate statement, one of the signatories of the letter, the International Campaign For Tibet, said Wei's sentencing and the situation in Tibet "have dashed the United States' hope that China would improve its human rights record following the delinking of human rights from trade."

In urging Clinton to support the anti-China resolution in March, the NGOs said it would not only benefit the repressed masses in China, but would "add credibility" to US foreign policy and its stance on human rights.