DATE=1/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226114
TITLE=HUMAN RIGHTS-CHINA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS
CONTINUES TO CRITICIZE CHINA FOR ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS BUT HAS
NOTED SOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS. VOA'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE IN
THIS REPORT.
TEXT: THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON CHINA IS THE LONGEST OF THE 194
COUNTRY REPORTS. IT SAYS THERE WERE POSITIVE STEPS IN HUMAN
RIGHTS ALTHOUGH SERIOUS PROBLEMS REMAIN. THE STATE DEPARTMENT
SAYS AMONG THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ARE A SOMEWHAT MORE TOLERANT
ATTITUDE TOWARD DISSENT, MOVES TOWARD THE RULE OF LAW, SIGNING
THE U-N COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL RIGHTS,
ALLOWING A U-N GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION TO VISIT CHINA AND
RELEASING SOME POLITICAL PRISONERS ON MEDICAL PAROLE.
JOHN SHATTUCK, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEMOCRACY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS SAYS THE POSITIVE STEPS SHOULD BE VIEWED IN CONTEXT.
/// SHATTUCK ACT ///
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS AND THESE REPORTS
ARE ALWAYS INTENDED TO REFLECT AND ENCOURAGE FURTHER POSITIVE
DEVELOPMENTS WHEN THEY OCCUR, BUT THEY NEED TO BE PUT IN CONTEXT
OF THE BROADER PICTURE THAT IS PAINTED IN THOSE COUNTRIES. THERE
HAS BEEN NO MAJOR CHANGE IN CHINA OVER THE LAST YEAR NOR WOULD
ONE EXPECT THERE TO HAVE BEEN OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. THE
ISSUE OF PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IS A LONG-TERM ONE.
/// END ACT ///
FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES
HAVE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO PASS A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING CHINESE
ABUSES AT THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN
GENEVA. MR. SHATTUCK SAYS THERE WILL BE EARLY CONSULTATIONS
ABOUT THIS YEAR'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING IN MARCH
/// SHATTUCK ACT ///
WE ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN CONSULTATIONS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION ABOUT A RESOLUTION ON CHINA AGAIN THIS YEAR AND OUR
POSITION WILL DEPEND ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA.
/// END ACT ///
THE STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON CHINA INCLUDES SECTIONS ON TIBET
AND HONG KONG. OF TIBET, IT SAYS REPRESSIVE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
CONTROLS CONTINUE TO LIMIT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS OF ETHNIC
TIBETANS AND RISK UNDERMINING TIBET'S UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE.
HONG KONG, WHICH RETURNED TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY LAST YEAR, GOT
GENERALLY FAVORABLE ACCOUNTS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT. IT
SAYS THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF POLITICAL KILLINGS OR
DISAPPEARANCES, AND NO POLITICAL PRISONERS. WHILE IT SAYS THERE
WAS LITTLE APPARENT CHANGE IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR THE PRESS,
SOME JOURNALISTS PRACTICE SELF-CENSORSHIP OUT OF FEAR OF THE NEW
CHINESE AUTHORITIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/KL
30-Jan-98 4:53 PM EST (2153 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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