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.

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