DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250076
TITLE=CHINA/ U-S/ HUMAN RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE MANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN ANSWERING A CHALLENGE FROM A CHINESE GOVERNMENT
REPORTER, A LEADING DISSIDENT SAYS THE NATO BOMBING OF THE
CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE DID NOT RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS. AT THE
SAME TIME, WEI JINGSHENG SAYS CHINA'S REACTION WAS THE REAL HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATION. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE MANN REPORTS THE
CHALLENGE CAME (TUESDAY) DURING A WASHINGTON CONFERENCE.
INTRO: WEI JINGSHENG SAYS THE BELGRADE EMBASSY BOMBING DID NOT
DEMONSTRATE RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. BUT HE ADDED THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE THE BOMBING WAS INTENTIONAL, AND UNTIL SUCH EVIDENCE
EXISTS ONE SHOULD NOT MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT IT AS A VIOLATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.
THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER MR. WEI BELIEVES THE BOMBING VIOLATED
HUMAN RIGHTS WAS ASKED BY A REPORTER FOR CHINA'S OFFICIAL
"XINHUA" NEWS AGENCY. SOME AMERICAN ANALYSTS SAY CHINA PUTS
THESE KINDS OF QUESTIONS TO DISSIDENTS AS A LITMUS TEST OF
WHETHER THEY ARE PATRIOTIC CHINESE.
THREE CHINESE JOURNALISTS WERE KILLED IN THE EMBASSY BOMBING,
WHICH SPARKED SEVERAL DAYS OF ANGRY PROTESTS IN CHINA AGAINST THE
UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATO COUNTRIES.
AT THE CONFERENCE ABOUT SINO-U-S RELATIONS 10-YEARS AFTER THE
CRACKDOWN ON THE TIANANMEN SQUARE PROTEST MOVEMENT, MR. WEI SAID
CHINA'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE BOMBING WAS THE REAL VIOLATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS, BECAUSE IT WAS INTENTIONAL.
SPEAKING THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, MR. WEI REFERRED TO CHINESE
CHARGES THAT THE BOMBING WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, AND WHAT HE CALLED
THE GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZED ANTI-U-S PROTESTS.
// WEI / TRANSLATOR ACT ONE //
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S DELIBERATE INSTIGATION OF
NATIONALIST FANATICISM, ITS PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN TOWARDS
THIS END, DEMONSTRATES A SEVERE DISRESPECT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS. THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT STILL HAS NOT
ADMITTED THAT IT WAS MISTAKEN IN KILLING THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN 1989. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT THIS IS A
GOVERNMENT THAT HAS A RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS?
// END ACT //
WEI JINGSHENG HAS SERVED TWO PRISON TERMS IN CHINA FOR
CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT AND ADVOCATING DEMOCRACY AND RESPECT
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN NEW YORK SINCE 1997,
WHEN CHINA GRANTED HIM A MEDICAL PAROLE.
MR. WEI SAYS CHINA'S GOAL IN LAUNCHING, WHAT HE CALLED -- A
NATIONALIST CAMPAIGN -- WAS NOT RELATED TO PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS
OR TO CHINA'S RELATIONS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HE SAYS IT WAS
INTENDED TO BOLSTER THE POSITION OF HARDLINE COMMUNIST PARTY
MEMBERS IN THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP.
// OPT WEI / TRANSLATOR ACT TWO //
AND SO, SOONER OR LATER THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING
TO FIND AN EXCUSE FOR CARRYING ON THESE SORTS OF
ACTIVITIES. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN THE BOMBING OF THE
EMBASSY IN BELGRADE, WHICH GAVE THEM A VERY CONVENIENT
EXCUSE, THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND ANOTHER EXCUSE. AND SO I
REALLY THINK THESE NATIONALIST DEMONSTRATIONS IN CHINA
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE NO DIRECT CONNECTION
TO THE BOMBING OF THE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.
// END ACT // END OPT //
WEI JINGSHENG SAYS SO FAR THE NATIONALIST CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN
DIRECTED ONLY AGAINST CHINESE DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES AND FOREIGNERS
WORKING IN CHINA. HE SAYS IF IT IS NOT CONTROLLED IT COULD
SPREAD AND AFFECT MORE PEOPLE. MR. WEI SAYS INTERNATIONAL
PRESSURE ON CHINA AT THIS TIME WILL BE CRUCIAL IN DETERMINING HOW
THE CURRENT SITUATION DEVELOPS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SMN/RAE
01-Jun-99 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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