Published by: World Tibet Network News Saturday, November 21, 1997

NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (UPI) _ Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng (WAGH geeng-SHUHNG'), just released from China on medical parole, says there are several hundred thousand political prisoners still suffering in Chinese Communist Party jails for exercising their freedom of speech.

In his first public statement since arriving in the United States, Wei urged those who have human rights not to forget those who are oppressed.

Obviously still feeling the effects of imprisonment for being part of a pro-democracy movement, Wei took pills during his press conference at the New York Public Library, and appeared wobbly and needed support as he got up at the end of his speech.

Wei said, ``I have waited decades for this chance to exercise my right to free speech, but the Chinese people have been waiting for centuries.''

The 47-year-old said he plans to return to China, but doesn't want to go back to jail.

Wei, who suffers from hypertension, arthritis, bronchitis and other health problems that developed during his 18 years in a Chinese labor camp, says he is concerned about his family, saying they have suffered a lot on his behalf.

However, he said he is equally concerned with the hundreds of thousands of people being oppressed in China.

He said he disagrees with China's oppressive policies in Tibet, adding a solution would not come from any one person, but from a dialogue between Tibetan and the Han people, who represent China's largest ethnic group.

He said he has no plans to visit Taiwan, but he would like to go.

Wei predicted the future of China's democracy is excellent, saying, ``After a low tide there is a high tide.''

He said the most important thing he learned in the last 18 years is, ``You just have to rely on yourself and you can overcome any difficulty. ''