World Tibet Network News Friday, March 27th, 1998

WASHINGTON, March 25 (AFP) -The US Congress began consideration Wednesday of a measure aimed at fighting religious persecution around the world, but an administration official criticized the proposal as counterproductive.

The measure before the House International Relations Committe could impose economic and trade sanctions on countries such as China, Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Laos for failing to allow religious freedom.

"Tyrants understand strength," said Representative Chris Smith, backer of the measure.

The bill would create an office in the State Department to monitor religious freedom around the world.

Committee chairman Benjamin Gilman said the proposal "sends a long-overdue signal to repressive governments that continued religious persecution will not go unanswered."

"Persecuted Christians in North Korea, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Sudan and other nations, will be encouraged," he said.

But Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat, speaking for the administration of President Bill Clinton, called the bill the "worst example of a one-size fits all policy."

The measure would "wreak havoc with our foreign policy and be counterproductive in efforts to protect groups we seek to protect," Eizenstat said.

Although the proposal would allow the administration to exempt countries from sanctions for national security reasons, Eizenstat said that being included on a "blacklist" would be enough to hurt bilateral relations.

He said the State Department already provides an informational report on human rights, including reigious freedom, which cites 78 countries for failing to guarantee religious freedoms. But the proposal would take that further by identifying countries involving in religious persecution, and imposing mandatory sanctions.

The proposal is supported by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the United States Catholic Conference and the International Campaign for Tibet, among others.