WASHINGTON, D.C.—The House of Representatives passed Resolution 1370 on July 30: “Calling on the Government of the People’s Republic of China to immediately end abuses of the human rights of its citizens, to cease repression of Tibetan and Uighur citizens, and to end its support for the Governments of Sudan and Burma to ensure that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games take place in an atmosphere that honors the Olympic traditions of freedom and openness.”
The resolution which was introduced on July 23 by Congressman Howard Berman of California passed 419 to 1.
It mentions that “…People’s Republic of China has reportedly increased its persecution of the Falun Gong prior to the Olympic Games… [and] remains unwilling to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to China to hold direct talks on a resolution on the issue of Tibet, despite calls from the international community to do so before the Olympic Games”
“Now is the time to call on China to take immediate substantial and serious action if there is to be any hope that the Olympic Games will take place in an atmosphere that honors the Olympic spirit of freedom and openness,” said Congressman Berman in a statment issued by the House Committee of Foreign Affairs.
The House calls for the release of political prisoners of conscience who exercised their rights guaranteed under China’s constitution and international law. The prisoners list published by the Congressional- Executive Commission on China (cecc.gov) on June 26, 2008, includes ill and aged people.
“Human rights are indivisible,” said Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey in a press release issued by his congressional office. “We need to emphasize all human rights violations.
“I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and call on the President to stand up for human rights in China. This year’s Olympics offered China the opportunity to turn a corner, but instead China turned backward,” said Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Ca) in a press release issued by her congressional office.
The resolution also sites failures of China’s governments pledge to free access of the press, citing the detainment of 15 journalists in 2007 for permitted activities, and calls for the immediate end of the detention, harassment, and intimidation of foreign and domestic reporters.
In a similar senate resolution, the Senate called for China’s government to refrain from targeting individuals who express opinion, or visit political or human rights websites. The Senate resolution expresses concern for the safety of international visitors and journalists who document human rights abuses and promote human rights improvements during the Olympics. Senate Res. 633 was sponsored on July 30 by Senator Samuel Brownback of Kansas and has yet to pass.
The resolution which was introduced on July 23 by Congressman Howard Berman of California passed 419 to 1.
It mentions that “…People’s Republic of China has reportedly increased its persecution of the Falun Gong prior to the Olympic Games… [and] remains unwilling to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to China to hold direct talks on a resolution on the issue of Tibet, despite calls from the international community to do so before the Olympic Games”
“Now is the time to call on China to take immediate substantial and serious action if there is to be any hope that the Olympic Games will take place in an atmosphere that honors the Olympic spirit of freedom and openness,” said Congressman Berman in a statment issued by the House Committee of Foreign Affairs.
The House calls for the release of political prisoners of conscience who exercised their rights guaranteed under China’s constitution and international law. The prisoners list published by the Congressional- Executive Commission on China (cecc.gov) on June 26, 2008, includes ill and aged people.
“Human rights are indivisible,” said Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey in a press release issued by his congressional office. “We need to emphasize all human rights violations.
“I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and call on the President to stand up for human rights in China. This year’s Olympics offered China the opportunity to turn a corner, but instead China turned backward,” said Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Ca) in a press release issued by her congressional office.
The resolution also sites failures of China’s governments pledge to free access of the press, citing the detainment of 15 journalists in 2007 for permitted activities, and calls for the immediate end of the detention, harassment, and intimidation of foreign and domestic reporters.
In a similar senate resolution, the Senate called for China’s government to refrain from targeting individuals who express opinion, or visit political or human rights websites. The Senate resolution expresses concern for the safety of international visitors and journalists who document human rights abuses and promote human rights improvements during the Olympics. Senate Res. 633 was sponsored on July 30 by Senator Samuel Brownback of Kansas and has yet to pass.
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