Published by: World Tibet Network News Sunday, November 9, 1997

Submitted by Sherab Gyaltsen Lhatsang

Nov 7th 1997

The Wisconsin State Assembly unanimously passed Assembly joint resolution 77 Thursday condemning China's human rights violations in Tibet and China- a measure timed to coincide with Chinese President Jiang Zemin's meeting with President Clinton.

"This resolution is part of the clear message Americans everywhere are sending President Jiang Zemin; that we are deeply distressed with the state of human rights in his country," said Rep. David Travis, D-Madison, the author of the resolution.

State Rep. Spencer Black who has always been a very big supporter of Tibet. Introduced an amendment to the Joint resolution (Ln 14 to AJR 77) which was also adopted.

After the resolution was passed Rep. Black made a brief statement on the Assembly floor:

"I would like to thank the State Assembly for adopting this protest of the brutal treatment of the Tibetan people by the current Chinese government.

The people of this state can trace our roots to literally every inhabited continent and to almost every country on this planet. In the last years, our state has been further enriched by the addition of new residents from Tibet. Their residency here is bittersweet. They have been a valuable addition to our community, but, the reason they are here, and not in Tibet, is because of the oppression visited on their them and their people by the Chinese government.

By adopting this resolution, we have added our voices to the increasingly loud chorus of Americans who are speaking out against the repression by the Chinese government in Tibet. We have joined those who demand that freedom be returned to the Tibetan people - the freedom to worship as they choose and the freedom to live and be independent in their own homeland."

WISCONSIN STATE ASSEMBLY

1997 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 77

October 30, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Travis and Schneider, cosponsored by Senator Wineke. Referred to Committee on Rules.

Relating to: Chinese human rights.

Whereas, the visit to the United States of Jiang Zemin, President of the People's Republic of China, highlights an ongoing debate over the developing relationship between our 2 countries; and

Whereas, the Communist government's desire to expand China's participation in the world economy has intensified concerns over its record of infringement of human rights and political freedom; and

Whereas, the slaughter of students demonstrating in Tiananmen Square for democratic reforms was a reprehensible act for which China's leaders have neither apologized nor atoned; and

Whereas, the involuntary sterilization of women, forced abortions, slave labor camps and execution of prisoners so their body parts can be sold are among the many horrific examples of continuing persecution by the Chinese government; and

Whereas, the Chinese government has denied the Tibetan people their independence and freedom of religion; and

Whereas, China's limited movement toward legal reform and political freedom represents only a meager step toward the massive changes needed to restore and protect the rights of its people; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin legislature welcomes President Jiang to the United States in the hope that his visit will expose him to the American people's deep distress over the state of human rights in his county; and, be it further

Resolved, That the legislature hopes President Jiang's visit to such symbols of American democracy as Colonial Williamsburg will be accompanied by an understanding and acceptance of basic democratic tenets, including the right of all people to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and, be it further

Resolved, That the legislature urges President Jiang to understand this country's expectation that fundamental human rights be observed by any nation that seeks to strengthen its economic and political ties to the free world; and, be it further

Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to President of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin, President of the United States William J. Clinton and the members of Wisconsin's delegation to the U.S. Congress.