23 March 2000
Text: Senator Tim Hutchinson Condemns China Human Rights Record
(Urges President to personally back Geneva China Resolution) (680) Senator Tim Hutchinson announced March 23 that he had signed on to Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone's resolution urging the Clinton Administration to strive to get the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva to pass a resolution condemning China's human rights abuses. The Arkansas Republican joined the Minnesota Democrat the day before as a co-sponsor of Senate Resolution 271 that charges the Beijing regime with "escalated efforts to extinguish expressions of protest or criticism." The Senate resolution, introduced March 9 by Wellstone, also criticizes the communist regime for having "detained scores of citizens associated with attempts to organize a legal democratic opposition, as well as religious leaders, academics, and members of minority groups." It calls on the United States to "make every effort necessary" to pass a resolution at the 56th session of the UNHRC inn Geneva that calls on the People's Republic of China "to end its human rights abuses." "China today is practically a template for human rights violations," Hutchinson said at a Washington, D.C. press conference. "I am pleased that Secretary of State Albright is in Geneva advancing the U.S. resolution on China. But I would urge President Clinton to become personally involved in the effort to solidify cosponsors and votes for the Geneva resolution," the senator from Clinton's home state said. "Time and time again," Hutchinson charged, "China has avoided defending an indefensible human rights record before the international community. I believe we can make this year different." Following is the text: (begin text) Senator Hutchinson Urges Administration To Seek Support For China Human Rights Resolution Senator Tim Hutchinson today joined colleagues at a press conference on Capitol Hill to voice support of Senate Resolution 271, sponsored by Senator Paul Wellstone, which says that a resolution on China at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva has the full backing of the U.S. Congress and urges the Administration to exert the effort to see it pass. "China today is practically a template for human rights violations," said Senator Hutchinson. "In its annual report on human rights, our State Department documents just about every violation of international norms in China - from religious persecution, to crackdowns on political dissent, to torture, to forced labor, to trafficking of women and children. It's all happening in China and it appears to be getting worse. "If there is any doubt that this regime is still repressive, then I would simply point you to Mr. Lu Wenhe or Mr. Song Yongyi, who are here with us today. The Chinese authorities arrested Mr. Song for doing research that might bring out the horrible truth about the Chinese government. They detained Mr. Lu for trying to deliver donated money to the families of Tiananmen Square victims. "We must never forget those still languishing in prison for their cries of faith, their cries of dissent, or their cries for freedom. The State Department, the Administration, and the European Union all acknowledge that the human rights situation in China is deteriorating. "We know the facts and we have the forum for highlighting this issue. Now it is simply a question of will - does the international community have the courage and determination to hold China accountable to international standards? "I am pleased that Secretary Albright is in Geneva advancing the U.S. resolution on China. But I would urge President Clinton to become personally involved in the effort to solidify cosponsors and votes for the Geneva resolution. And I would urge the EU to come out united in support of this resolution. "I am willing and ready to work with the Administration to build the support of other nations. China is sparing no expense to avoid the spotlight. Time and time again, China has avoided defending an indefensible human rights record before the international community. I believe we can make this year different." (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State - www.usinfo.state.gov)
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