U.S. Congress Members Appeal to Beijing on Human Rights Day

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, several members of Congress protested the abduction and imprisonment of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, widely regarded as the founder of the China pro-democracy movement.

At a press conference on Capitol Hill on Dec. 10, Dr. Wang’s daughter delivered a first-hand report of her recent visit with her father, who is serving a life sentence in solitary confinement for his pro-democracy writings and activities.

Other human rights violations were discussed at the press conference. The incoming Obama Administration was urged by the Congress representatives and human rights organizations to make human rights a priority.

Congresswoman lleanna Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, co-sponsored the congressional resolution, which urged Beijing to release Dr. Wang. The House Resolution passed 399 to 0 in May 2004.

“Yet we are still here today, years after the passage of that resolution, [and] he remains in prison, sentenced to life in prison,” said Representative Ros-Lehtinen. [caption id=”attachment_77638″ align=”alignleft” width=”320″ caption=”Congressman Smith said,