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CECC Press Releases

2010-07-27 - Statement of CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin on the Newly Enhanced Political Prisoner Database

2010-07-09 - Statement of CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin on Xinjiang - One Year After Demonstrations and Rioting

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

July 9, 2010
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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Statement of CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin on Xinjiang - One Year After Demonstrations and Rioting

(Washington D.C.) - We are deeply concerned by human rights conditions in Xinjiang, one year after demonstrations and rioting in the region. Events that started on July 5, 2009 resulted in injury and death to Han and Uyghur citizens alike. Repressive policies in the region have continued, and, in some cases, have intensified.

In the aftermath of last year's violence, the government tightly restricted the free flow of information, and curbed Internet access for 10 months. Authorities intensified security campaigns and conducted large scale sweeps and raids. Security forces detained some Uyghurs, primarily men and boys, whose whereabouts still remain unknown. We are alarmed by reports that trials have been marred by violations of Chinese law and international standards for due process. We are concerned by reported curbs on independent legal defense and a general lack of transparency in trials.

Conditions in the region today remain tense. The Internet is back up, but a number of Uyghur Web sites remain shuttered. And throughout the last year, the government issued regulations to restrict free speech. As we noted immediately after last year's tragic events, we urge the Chinese government, when addressing events in Xinjiang, to abide by its domestic and international commitments to protect citizen's fundamental rights and to promote the rule of law, and we urge the Chinese government to address the longstanding grievances of the Uyghur people, especially those related to official suppression of Uyghurs' independent expressions of ethnic, cultural, and religious identity.

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2010-06-04 - Statement of CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin on the 21st Anniversary of the Suppression of the Tiananmen Square Democracy Protests

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

June 4, 2010
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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Statement of CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin on the 21st Anniversary of the Suppression of the Tiananmen Square Democracy Protests

(Washington D.C.) - Twenty-one years ago, as students, government employees, journalists, workers, police, and other citizens calling for democratic reform gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, and in over 100 other Chinese cities, thousands of armed forces moved into Beijing. Training its firepower directly onto crowds around Tiananmen Square, the People’s Liberation Army killed or injured thousands of unarmed civilians. We express our sympathy to the relatives and friends of those killed on that day, and we stand with those who were unjustly wounded, detained, or imprisoned and with those who continue to suffer today.

We call on the Chinese government to end its harassment and detention of and its discrimination against those who were involved in the 1989 protests, not only in Beijing, but in other parts of China where protests took place, and to end its harassment, detention and imprisonment of those who continue to advocate peacefully for political reform. We call on the Chinese government to permit Tiananmen protest participants who escaped to or who are living in exile in the United States and other countries, or who reside outside of China because they have been ‘blacklisted’ in China as a result of their peaceful participation in democracy protests, to return home to China, without risk of retribution or repercussion.

Today, we honor the memory and courage of those who were injured, ill-treated or who lost their lives in the 1989 protests. Those in China who demand a full and impartial investigation into and accounting of the events surrounding June 4, 1989 and those who continue to advocate peacefully for democratic reform deserve our unconditional support.

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2009-12-23 - CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin Issue Joint Statement on the Trial of Liu Xiaobo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

December 23, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin Issue Joint Statement on the Trial of Liu Xiaobo

(Washington D.C.) - Following the trial of Mr. Liu Xiaobo in Beijing on the morning of December 23, China once again is at an important crossroads, and seems to be turning in the wrong direction. We call on the Chinese government to release Mr. Liu, and to respect the rights of all Chinese citizens to peacefully express their political views and desires for universally-recognized fundamental freedoms.

Mr. Liu has been detained and tried for exercising internationally-recognized rights to free expression and association; his case should be dismissed, and he should be released. The trial of Mr. Liu demonstrates again the Chinese government’s failure to uphold its international human rights obligations and also its failure to abide by procedural norms and safeguards that meet international standards. The apparent violations of Chinese legal protections for criminal defendants that have marred Mr. Liu’s case from the outset are numerous and well-documented. Serious concerns have been raised over matters such as the failure of Chinese prosecutors to consult defense lawyers and the speed with which they acted in indicting Mr. Liu and bringing him to trial, effectively denying his lawyers sufficient time to review the state’s evidence and to prepare for his defense. Mr. Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, has been harassed relentlessly and prevented by officials from attending the trial, in which she reportedly had hoped to testify on behalf of her husband. Mr. Liu's lawyers reportedly have been ordered by state judicial authorities not to grant interviews.

All nations have the responsibility to ensure fairness and transparency in judicial proceedings. The effective implementation of basic human rights and the ability of all people in China to live under the rule of law depend on careful attention to, and transparent compliance with, procedural norms and safeguards that meet international standards. Instead of signaling its intent to uphold international standards, the Chinese government thus far in its treatment of Liu Xiaobo has demonstrated callous disregard for those standards.

All Chinese citizens deserve unconditional protection of their internationally-recognized rights to free expression and free association. Those in China, like Mr. Liu, who have penned thoughtful essays or signed Charter 08 seek to advance debate on “national governance, citizens’ rights, and social development” consistent with their “duty as responsible and constructive citizens.” Their rights must be protected. As stated in this Commission’s recently-released 2009 Annual Report, the development of a stable China firmly committed to the rule of law and citizens’ fundamental rights is in the national interest of the United States. Those rights include the freedoms of speech, assembly, association and other rights protected under China’s Constitution and laws or under China’s international human rights obligations.

The verdict in Mr. Liu’s case reportedly may be announced on December 25. We call on China’s judiciary to signal genuine commitment to the rule of law and fundamental rights by dismissing the case against Liu Xiaobo, and in so doing to recognize the serious procedural flaws and substantive violations of his rights that have taken place. We call on Chinese officials to release Mr. Liu, and in so doing to demonstrate through action the Chinese government’s commitment to developing the rule of law and to upholding international human rights standards.

Additional Commission Resources on Liu Xiaobo:

U.S. Department of State Message on the Indictment of Chinese Activist Liu Xiaobo (12/15/09)

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), Chaired by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Co-Chaired by Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), consists of nine Members of the House of Representatives, nine Senators and five Administration officials appointed by the President. The Commission’s Annual Report is among the most comprehensive, public examinations of the state of human rights and the rule of law in China produced by the U.S. government.

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2009-12-09 - CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin Issue Joint Statement on Human Rights Day 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

December 9, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin Issue Joint Statement on Human Rights Day 2009

(Washington D.C.) - Last year, on the eve of Human Rights Day, which is observed each year on December 10th, 303 Chinese citizens—including scholars, writers, lawyers, and activists—issued on the Internet Charter 08, a document calling for political reform and greater protection of human rights in China. Liu Xiaobo, a prominent intellectual and dissident who signed Charter 08, was detained the night before the document was released. In June 2009, authorities formally arrested Liu for "inciting subversion." Earlier this month, the police forwarded the case to prosecutors, almost a year after he was taken into custody. Many of the other original signers of Charter 08 (which has since garnered over 10,000 signatures within and outside China) have been subjected to harassment, surveillance, and unlawful house arrest. Chinese authorities have blocked Charter 08, and any reference to it, on the Internet.

Human Rights Day commemorates the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. China voted to adopt the UDHR in 1948, and the current Chinese government has committed itself to protecting the fundamental human rights that are enshrined in the UDHR through international agreements and its own domestic law. In April 2009, the Chinese government reaffirmed this commitment in its first-ever National Human Rights Action Plan.

As detailed in this Commission's 2009 Annual Report, there were many setbacks for rule of law and human rights in China during this past year. In addition to the crackdown on Charter 08 signers, the persecution of human rights lawyers, including Jiang Tianyong and others, reached an unprecedented level; authorities have revoked or suspended the licenses of numerous human rights lawyers and many face ongoing persecution and harassment. Ten months after his disappearance, lawyer Gao Zhisheng remains missing. Petitioners continue to be detained and abused in illegal "black jails." The trials of people—mostly Uyghurs—charged with crimes committed during unrest in Xinjiang in July have been marked by violations of international standards for due process including judges selected for "political reliability" and curbs on defendants' right to independent counsel. The Chinese government continues to suppress civil society initiatives and freedom of expression. For their efforts to advocate peacefully for parents of schoolchildren killed in the May 2008 Sichuan earthquake, authorities put Huang Qi and Tan Zuoren on trial for endangering national security; Huang Qi recently was convicted and sentenced to a prison term of three years for "illegal possession of state secrets." The cases of over 1,200 of the many political and religious prisoners who are being held in China's jails and prisons today are documented in the Commission's publicly accessible Political Prisoner Database.

On Human Rights Day 2009, this Commission calls on the Chinese government to cease the harassment, control, and arbitrary detention of Chinese citizens who engage in peaceful advocacy for their rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, other international human rights instruments, and China's own Constitution and laws.

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2009-07-28 - CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan Calls on China to Reveal Whereabouts of Gao Zhisheng

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

July 28, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan Calls on China to Reveal Whereabouts of Gao Zhisheng

(Washington, D.C. – July 28, 2009) – Senator Byron Dorgan, Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), made the following statement on the disappearance of Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng:

Mr. DORGAN.

I am Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The Commission examines human rights and rule of law developments in China. Recently, it has noted the increasing harassment of China’s human rights lawyers. Some of these lawyers have been disbarred and their law firms closed. Others have been physically harassed or beaten. What do these lawyers share in common? They have the tenacity and courage to take on politically sensitive cases.

I want to say a few words today about China’s most famous human rights lawyer, a very courageous man named Gao Zhisheng

It is 174 days since Mr. Gao was last seen being taken from his bed by more than 10 men.

His captors – apparently the “national defense” unit of China’s public security agency according to the renowned China expert Jerome Cohen– had threatened to kill the young lawyer during previous detentions marked by horrific torture.

What was his transgression? Mr. Gao agreed to take politically sensitive cases, and represented some of the most vulnerable people in China.

He sought to use the law to battle corruption, overturn illegal property seizures, expose police abuses and defend the religious freedom of persecuted Christians, members of Falun Gong and others.

In October 2005, Gao wrote an open letter to the President of China detailing the torture of Falun Gong members by authorities. A month later, authorities shut down his law firm and revoked his license to practice law. In 2006, Gao was convicted of “inciting subversion of state power.” He was placed under “home surveillance” which was harsher than prison, not only for Gao and but for his family.

In 2007, public security officers abducted Gao again, and he was brutally tortured for 50 days. His abduction was apparently prompted by the publication of an open letter he wrote to us, members of the US Congress. In that letter, Gao alleged widespread human rights abuses in China and described the government's harsh treatment of him and his family.

His captors called him “a traitor”. They also warned him that he would be killed if he told anyone about being abducted and tortured.

Once released, he was placed again under “home surveillance”. His family faced constant police surveillance and intimidation. His daughter was barred from attending school and lost hope.

The treatment became so brutal that the family decided that their survival depended on escaping from China. But Gao was too closely monitored and could not think of leaving with them without placing his family at great risk.

And so, last January, Gao’s wife, 6-year-old son and teenage daughter were smuggled out of China and then travelled onto the United States. After his family fled China, Gao was abducted from his home. No one has seen him alive since.

We know that his situation is extremely grave. I have met with his wife who fears he may have been killed. The Chinese government has not let anyone see him despite the repeated appeals by UN agencies, our government and other foreign governments, NGOs, and the media.

The Chinese government has signed or ratified many international human rights commitments that require it to come clean about Mr. Gao.

We call on the Chinese government to allow Mr. Gao access to a lawyer and to his family, and to publicly state and justify the grounds for his continued abuse.

The right to speak freely and the right to challenge the government - all of these are enshrined in China's Constitution. Yet, it appears that the Chinese government and Communist Party seem intent on upholding the violation of these rights in the case of Mr. Gao.

What has the Chinese government done to Mr. Gao? How do they justify it? And, when will they allow his family to see him? The government’s continued refusal to produce Mr. Gao makes his case resemble those of “disappeared” in Latin American dictatorships.

American law has the practice of habeas corpus. It is the legal action through which a person can seek relief from the unlawful detention of himself or another. Nothing similar to America's habeas corpus exists in China’s legislation or practice. But the UN Conventions against Torture, which China ratified twenty years ago, obligate it to come clean about Gao. I urge government of China to disclose Gao's whereabouts and to justify the grounds for his continued detention.

I yield the floor.

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2009-07-28 - CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan Calls Attention to the Relevance of Human Rights Concerns to the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

July 28, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan Calls Attention to the Relevance of Human Rights Concerns to the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

(Washington, D.C. – July 28, 2009) – Senator Byron Dorgan, Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), made the following statement on the occurrence of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue:

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Mr. DORGAN. The meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue this week in Washington is an important opportunity. It is a chance to advance a comprehensive relationship between our two countries and to highlight the importance of fundamental rights to that relationship.

I am chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The Commission examines human rights and rule of law developments in China. In recent years, I have witnessed human rights concerns being pushed to the margins of the U.S.-China relationship. This is due in part to China's growing financial, diplomatic and military strength. Sidelining our human rights concerns with China is a strategic mistake for the U.S.

The advancement of human rights concerns with China is more important to U.S. interests than ever. The reporting of the Commission I chair makes this crystal clear.

Press censorship in China makes it possible for toxic food and public health crises to spread globally.

The harassment of whistleblowers and the suppression of criticism and dissent remove internal checks against environmental damage that not only hurts ordinary Chinese citizens but has a global impact.

Abuses of low-wage labor compromise goods that come to the U.S. which have harmed U.S. consumers, as well as Chinese consumers.

The government's control of mass media and the internet allow it to stoke nationalist anger against the United States in moments of crisis. This can be terribly dangerous.

Let there be no doubt--I have enormous respect for China. I respect the progress China has made by lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. I admire its rich and remarkable culture and immensely talented people. But I firmly believe that its people should be free to speak their minds and practice their chosen faiths without fear.

There also have been positive developments in recent years. The government has enshrined in its Constitution the state's responsibility to protect and promote human rights. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China has also reported on China's recent adoption of new labor protections, and the relaxing of restrictions on foreign journalists inside China. These and other gains were made partly as a result of sustained international pressure. The meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue presents another opportunity to press for more such gains.

But let us be clear: Nothing we ask of China regarding human rights is inconsistent with commitments to international standards to which China in principal already has agreed. So we are not necessarily looking just for more agreements. We are waiting for action. We are waiting for China's leaders to demonstrate true commitment, not just in words but in deeds, to prioritizing human rights, including worker rights, and the development of the rule of law in no lesser way than they have prioritized economic reform.

In closing, the Strategic and Economic Dialogue this week provides an opportunity to underline how advancing the welfare of citizens must not be separated from a demonstrated commitment to human rights and the rule of law. To remain faithful to our pursuit of basic American values, we must seize that opportunity.

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2009-07-09 - CECC Chairman and Cochairman Call on China to Abide by Commitments to Protect Human Rights and Promote the Rule of Law in Xinjiang

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

July 9, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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CECC Chairman and Cochairman Call on China to Abide by Commitments to Protect Human Rights and Promote the Rule of Law in Xinjiang

(Washington, D.C. – July 9, 2009) – Senator Byron Dorgan, Chairman and Representative Sander Levin, Cochairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) made the following statement on the Chinese government’s response to demonstrations in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China:

“We are deeply saddened by recent reports of deaths and injuries in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China, and express our heartfelt sympathy to Uyghur and Han Chinese individuals and their families who have suffered.

“We note with great interest that Chinese and foreign media are present in the region, which is an important development. We continue to hear reports, however, of restrictions on reporters’ activities and of other controls over the free flow of information. These restrictions hamper reporting on these important events, and a number of details about the demonstrations remain unknown.

“We call on the Chinese government, when addressing recent events in Xinjiang, to abide by its domestic and international commitments to protects citizens’ human rights and promote the rule of law. We also urge the Chinese government to address the longstanding grievances of the Uyghur people that in part gave rise to the recent demonstrations.

“Specifically, we call on the Chinese government to:

Honor the Chinese Constitution's guarantees for the freedoms of speech and association, distinguish between acts of peaceful protest and acts of violence, and not treat peaceful protest as a crime.

Allow international observers and journalists immediate and unfettered access to the Xinjiang.

Provide details about each person detained or charged with a crime, including each person's name, the charges (if any) against each person, the name and location of the prosecuting office and court handling each case, and the name of each facility where a person is detained or imprisoned.

Ensure that security officials fulfill their obligations under Articles 64(2) and 71(2) of China’s Criminal Procedure Law to inform relatives and work places where detainees are being held.

Allow access by diplomats and other international observers to the trials of people charged with protest-related crimes.

“As we in the United States well know, ethnic, racial and cultural diversity is a tremendous national asset. We urge China to draw strength from its own diversity, and to fully implement its own laws and policies that protect the rights of all citizens equally.

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2009-06-04 - CECC Cochairman Sander Levin's Opening Statement at Hearing on The 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Protests

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

June 4, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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Statement of U.S. Representative Sander Levin
Cochairman, Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Hearing on "The 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Protests:
Examining the Significance of the 1989 Demonstrations and Implications for U.S. Policy"

June 4, 2009

Two decades ago, the Chinese people stood up at Tiananmen, but China's leaders ordered them to stand down. Many defied that order, choosing instead to remain faithful to their democratic aspirations. The world took note. And we preserve that memory for history today.

In the last 20 years since Tiananmen Square, the significance of the U.S.-China relationship has grown dramatically – on a variety of foreign policy issues and in our economic relations. In pursuing these relations successfully, a key challenge has been to find the right combination factors in pursuit of basic American values.

That was a challenge in consideration of trade relations with China in its accession to the WTO. There was incorporated in the legislation before Congress in 2000 the creation of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China to pursue issues relating to human rights, including labor rights, and the rule of law. The Commission actively has engaged on these issues and has issued a comprehensive report every year since its inception.

When peaceful protesters gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989—and in over 100 other Chinese cities—it represented a burst of freedom. But after thousands of armed forces moved into Beijing, and surrounded protesters—students, government employees, journalists, workers, and police alike— bursts of gunfire killed that burst of freedom on June 4, 1989. Training its firepower directly into the crowds around Tiananmen Square, the People’s Liberation Army killed and injured thousands of unarmed civilians.

We express our sympathy to the relatives and friends of those killed on that day, and we stand with them today as we honor the memory and the courage of those whose lives were lost, of those who were unjustly wounded or detained, and those who continue to suffer today, including prisoners of conscience still languishing in Chinese prisons.

We have asked our distinguished panelists here today in part to help us determine whether we ever will or even can know the exact number of dead, wounded and detained. As we ask China’s leaders for full and independent investigations into the Tiananmen Square crackdown with a full commitment to openness, we turn to you to help us understand whether there can be any realistic cause for optimism that such a public accounting can or will take place.

As we call on Chinese authorities to release those individuals imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their internationally-recognized rights, we ask you to help us better understand what else we may do to enhance the prospects that the Chinese authorities will respond appropriately. When we call on Chinese authorities to end the harassment and detention of those who were involved in the 1989 protests; and to end the harassment and detention of those who continue to advocate peacefully for political reform, we ask you to help us identify the factors that most determine the nature of the response we realistically may expect from Chinese authorities.

But let us be absolutely clear: in all of this, we ask of China nothing that is inconsistent with commitments to international standards to which China in principal already has agreed. So we are not looking for more agreements. We are waiting for action. We are looking for China’s leaders to demonstrate true commitment, not just in words but in deeds, to prioritizing human rights, including worker rights, and the development of the rule of law in no lesser measure than they have prioritized economic reform.

The first meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington DC during the last week of July 2009, provides an important opportunity to underline how the challenges of protecting and advancing the welfare of citizens—American and Chinese citizens alike—must neither be separated nor distinguished from a demonstrated and full commitment to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, anti-corruption, democratic processes, and other fundamental human rights.

In closing, I note again that, two decades ago, the Chinese people stood up at Tiananmen, but China's leaders ordered them to stand down. Many defied that order, choosing instead to remain faithful to their democratic aspirations. We must preserve that memory for history today. To remain faithful to our pursuit of basic American values, we must do nothing less. If we do not, the world will take note.

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2009-06-04 - CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan's Opening Statement at Hearing on The 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Protests

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

June 4, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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Statement of U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan
Chairman, Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Hearing on "The 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Protests:
Examining the Significance of the 1989 Demonstrations and Implications for U.S. Policy"

June 4, 2009

Welcome to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s first hearing in the 111th Congress. We have a distinguished group of witnesses before us today who will help us examine the significance of the tragic events of June 4, 1989, and aid us in exploring the implications of the 1989 democracy movement and its crackdown on U.S. policy toward China today.

We are honored to have a number of Tiananmen student leaders and others who participated in those demonstrations here with us in the hearing room today. I want to welcome one person in particular – Mr. Fang Zheng. Mr. Fang was an athlete at the Beijing College of Sports. On June 4, he was participating in the protests. When he sought to pull a girl out from in front of a tank, his legs were crushed under the tank. Refusing later to publicly deny that the source of his injury was a military tank, Mr. Fang was expelled from school. Despite enormous hardship, he went on to become China’s wheelchair discus and javelin champion. Earlier this year, he moved to the United States with his family. Welcome, Mr. Fang.

Twenty years ago, peaceful protesters like Mr. Fang gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square calling for the elimination of corruption and for political reforms. In Beijing and hundreds of other cities across China, they asked for the right to speak freely, and for other freedoms we take for granted here in the United States. These protesters included not only students. Government employees, journalists, workers, police, and even members of China’s armed forces also demonstrated that day.

Chinese authorities tried to persuade the demonstrators to leave Tiananmen Square. But they refused. Thousands of armed troops carrying automatic weapons in large truck convoys moved in to “clear the Square” and surrounding streets of demonstrators. Then, soldiers in columns of tanks fired directly at citizens and into crowds, inflicting high civilian casualties, and killing or injuring unarmed civilians.

Twenty years later, the exact number of dead and wounded remains unclear. The wounded are estimated to have numbered in the thousands. Detentions at the time were in the thousands. Some political prisoners who were sentenced in connection with the events surrounding June 4th still sit in Chinese prisons today.

I ask to be included in the hearing record a representative list of Tiananmen Square prisoners who remain in jail today. This list was developed from the Commission’s political prisoner database, the largest publicly accessible database of China’s political prisoners.

An untold number of Chinese citizens died in the government’s bloody crackdown. Relatives and friends have a right to mourn their sons, their daughters, their colleagues and their friends publicly. They have a right to call for a full and public accounting of the wounded and dead. They have a right to call for the release of those who are still imprisoned.

But for attempting to exercise these rights, relatives and friends of those killed in 1989 have faced harassment. They have faced arrest. They have suffered abuses. Today, we express our sympathy to them. Most of all we honor the memory of those whom they loved whose lives were lost.

Chinese authorities frequently tell us that today the Chinese people enjoy greater freedom to express themselves. I believe that it is true. But, at the same time, they repeatedly show the world how they violently silence those who work for fundamental rights for all of China’s citizens.

Right now, Chinese authorities are harassing and detaining human rights advocates. These include Mr. Liu Xiaobo and his wife, Liu Xia. Mr. Liu was a Tiananmen Square protester. He is now an important writer and thinker who signed Charter 08, which is a call for peaceful political reform published on-line last December by over 300 citizens. It has since been signed by thousands of individuals. For his endorsement of Charter 08, Mr. Liu is now under house arrest, and his wife faces constant harassment.

Last month, I met in my office with Geng He, the wife of the great human rights lawyer, Gao Zhi Sheng. Mr. Gao has not been seen or heard from since this past February. He represented the poor and politically dispossessed, persecuted Christians and Falun Gong, exploited coal miners, and those battling official corruption. After Mr. Gao was released from prison on politically related charges, he was placed under house arrest, and his family faced constant police surveillance and intimidation. For a period, even his 16-year-old daughter was barred from attending school. The treatment became so brutal that the family decided that their very survival depended on escaping from China. After his family fled, Mr. Gao was abducted from his home by members of the security services. He remains missing.

I urge the Chinese government to inform Mr. Gao’s wife, and his children, about where he is and to release him. His family is desperately worried about his well-being. I also appeal to the government to enforce internationally recognized standards of fairness and due process in judicial proceedings, and ask that it release those individuals imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights --- whether they exercised those rights in Tiananmen Square in 1989 or in China today. China is an extraordinary country which has had immense success on many fronts and is justifiably proud. China must now lead on strengthening the human rights of its people and the integrity of its legal and political institutions with no less skill and commitment than it has used to lead millions of its people out of poverty.

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2009-05-06 - Message From the Chairman and Cochairman

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

May 6, 2009
Contact for CECC Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for CECC Cochairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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Message From the Chairman and Cochairman

Chairman Byron L. Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin are pleased to announce the newest appointments to the Commission. Appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is Representative David Wu (D-OR, 1st District). Appointed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell are Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). They join Senators Baucus, Levin, Feinstein, Brown, Brownback, and Martinez, and Representatives Kaptur, Honda, Walz, Smith, Manzullo, Royce, and Pitts. All commissioner appointments are effective for a two-year term ending December 31, 2010.

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2008-12-17 - CECC Recommends Action on CHARTER 08 and the Detention of Liu Xiaobo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

December 17, 2008
Contact for CECC Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC Recommends Action on CHARTER 08 and the Detention of Liu Xiaobo

On the eve of December 10, 2008, the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, over 300 Chinese citizens signed and posted online a document titled "Charter 08," calling for political reform and greater protection of human rights in China. Signers included leading intellectuals, lawyers, writers, farmers, and workers. Over the past week, many hundreds more people in China have signed, with some reports placing the number of signers in the thousands. Chinese abroad have signed the Charter as well.

Liu Xiaobo, one of the original signers of the Charter, and a prominent intellectual and dissident, has been detained, apparently for expression protected under international human rights standards that the Chinese government has recognized. Specifically, Mr. Liu's activities are protected under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides that "[e]veryone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression," and a similar provision in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which China signed in 1998 and has committed to ratify. Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provide for the right to freedom of association. Articles 35 and 41 of China's Constitution, which provide the right of citizens to free speech, free association, and to criticize their government, also should protect Mr. Liu's activities. As of December 17, Mr. Liu's wife reportedly had not received an official notice of his detention, as required under Article 64 of China's Criminal Procedure Law. At the time of this writing, Mr. Liu's whereabouts remain unknown. In addition, at least 39 members of the group that initially signed Charter 08 have reported being questioned or harassed by authorities.

Charter 08 contains 19 recommendations, including, among other things, a call for guarantees of human rights and respect for human dignity, direct elections of legislative bodies and administration officials, an independent judiciary, separation of powers, and the guarantee of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. The Charter urges Chinese citizens to work together "for major changes in Chinese society and for the rapid establishment of a free, democratic, and constitutional country . . . to bring a brilliant new chapter to Chinese civilization."

The reported treatment of signers of Charter 08, including Mr. Liu, around the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, raises questions about recent statements made by Chinese officials with regard to China's human rights record. In November, China announced that it would release its first National Human Rights Action Plan. On December 5, China submitted its national report to the UN Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review process. In a section titled "Speech, News Media Freedoms," the report highlights China's constitutional protections for freedom of speech and the freedom to criticize government officials, and notes that "criticizing the government" has become an important feature of Chinese life. President Hu, along with other top leaders, consistently have called for ensuring citizens' rights to "participation," "expression," and "oversight" as a check on government abuses.

CECC Recommendations:

Press the Chinese government to release Liu Xiaobo immediately.
Urge the Chinese government not to permit the intimidation or harassment of individuals who sign Charter 08, or who solicit new signatures.
Call on the Chinese government to protect unconditionally signers' rights to free expression and free association.

Commission Resources on Charter 08, freedom of expression, and political imprisonment in China:

Commission Analysis: "Over 300 Citizens Issue 'Charter 08'; Several Activists Detained"; "United Nations' Human Rights Day";
Section II-Freedom of Expression in the Commission's 2008 Annual Report;
U.S. Department of State Press Statement, "Harassment of Chinese Signatories to Charter 08";
Search for Liu Xiaobo's record in the Commission's Political Prisoner Database;
Partial List of Political Prisoners Known or Believed To Be Detained or Imprisoned in China as of October 31, 2008 (1,088 cases, including case summaries in English).

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2008-12-10 - CECC Statement for United Nations' Human Rights Day 2008

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

December 10, 2008
Contact for CECC Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC Statement for United Nations' Human Rights Day 2008:
Holding China Accountable to International Human Rights Standards

The United Nations' Human Rights Day, observed each year on December 10, commemorates the anniversary of the General Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. December 10, 2008, marks the Universal Declaration's 60th anniversary. The Universal Declaration enshrines a core set of rights and freedoms that individuals everywhere enjoy. China voted to adopt the Universal Declaration in 1948, and the current Chinese government has continued to commit itself to upholding human rights through international agreements and its own domestic law. In practice, however, the Chinese government does not guarantee these rights. On the eve of United Nations' Human Rights Day, more than 300 Chinese citizens--including scholars, writers, lawyers, and activists--signed and posted online Charter 08, an open statement calling for greater rights and freedoms in China. As this Commission has reported, the Charter's issue coincided with the detention or harassment of activists.

This year the international community watched with dismay as Chinese authorities responded with overwhelming force to a wave of public protests that spread across Tibetan areas of China. Amidst the astonishment with which people around the world witnessed the spectacular opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and China's effective management of the Games, China's leaders failed to fulfill a number of commitments--including commitments to press freedom, media access, the free flow of information, and freedom of assembly. We understand that China today is significantly changed from the China of several decades ago, and that the challenges facing its people and leaders are complex. But, as detailed in this Commission's 2008 Annual Report, the Chinese government's and Communist Party's continuing crackdown on China's ethnic minority citizens, ongoing manipulation of the media, and heightened repression of lawyers and human rights defenders reveal a level of state control over society that is incompatible with the development of the rule of law and the advancement of human rights. The cases of well over a thousand of the many political and religious prisoners languishing in jails and prisons in China today are documented in the Commission's publicly accessible Political Prisoner Database.

The Chinese government and Communist Party continue to equate citizen activism and public protest with "social instability" and "social unrest." China's increasingly active and engaged citizens are its most valuable resource for addressing the myriad public policy problems China faces. Engaging activist citizens, not repressing them, is the key to effective implementation of human rights, and to the ability of the Chinese government to show true commitment to the principles of dignity and justice for all enshrined in the Universal Declaration. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China is committed by mandate to be a permanent spotlight on China's compliance with human rights and development of the rule of law, and calls on China's government to comply with its international and domestic commitments to guarantee the human rights of all its citizens, and of all who enter China's borders.

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2008-11-29 - CECC Chairman Sander Levin Issues Statement on Reported Execution of Mr. Wo Weihan

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Saturday, November 29, 2008
Contact for CECC Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC Chairman Sander Levin Issues Statement on Reported Execution of Mr. Wo Weihan

(Washington D.C.) - The reported execution on November 28 of Mr. Wo Weihan demonstrates again the Chinese government’s failure to abide by procedural norms and safeguards that meet international standards. Serious concerns were raised over matters such as Mr. Wo’s access to counsel, the availability of information during preparation of his defense, the transparency of proceedings that resulted in his conviction and sentencing, and the manner in which questions concerning the proportionality of his punishment were reviewed. All nations have the responsibility to ensure that justice is served in criminal cases, including cases involving questions of national security. But the effective implementation of basic human rights, and the ability of all people in China to live under the rule of law depend on careful attention to and transparent compliance with procedural norms and safeguards that meet international standards. Instead of signaling its intent to uphold international standards through completion of a full, fair and transparent review of Mr. Wo's case, the Chinese government demonstrated callous disregard for those standards.

As we stated in the Commission’s recently-released 2008 Annual Report on human rights and the development of rule of law in China, "China's repeated failure to live up to its commitments to international standards has seriously damaged its credibility." Moreover, recent developments "prompt us to consider not simply what the Chinese government and Communist Party may do in the months and years ahead, but what the United States must do differently in managing our relationship with China....It is vital that the United States in its relationship with China pursue the issues that are the charge of this Commission: individual human rights, including worker rights, and the safeguards of the rule of law. This is not a matter of one country meddling in the affairs of another. All nations, including ours, have both the responsibility and a legitimate interest in ensuring compliance with international commitments."

For further information on the death penalty, state secrets, and related issues in China, see “Capital Punishment,” “Fairness of Criminal Trials,” Access to Counsel and the Right to Present a Defense,” in Section II - Rights of Criminal Suspects and Defendants, and Section II – Freedom of Expression in the Commission’s 2008 Annual Report.

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), Chaired by Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) and Co-Chaired by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), consists of nine Members of the House of Representatives, nine Senators and five Administration officials appointed by the President. The Commission’s Annual Report is among the most comprehensive, public examinations of the state of human rights and the rule of law in China produced by the U.S. government.

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2008-11-27 - CECC Chairman Issues Statement on Wo Weihan Death Penalty Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Thursday, November 27, 2008
Contact for CECC Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC Chairman Issues Statement on Wo Weihan Death Penalty Case

(Washington D.C.) - We note with significant interest that the Chinese government may be revisiting procedural issues in the death penalty case of Mr. Wo Weihan, whose execution is pending. Concerns have been raised over matters such as Mr. Wo’s access to counsel, his access to information during preparation of his defense, the transparency of proceedings that resulted in his conviction and sentencing, and the manner in which questions concerning the proportionality of his punishment were reviewed. We shall continue to monitor press reports indicating that China's Supreme People's Court may be taking time to complete a full, fair and transparent review of Mr. Wo's death sentence. The effective implementation of basic human rights, and the ability of all people in China to live under the rule of law depends on careful attention to and transparent compliance with procedural norms and safeguards that meet international standards.

Additional information is available on the Commission's website at: www.cecc.gov

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2008-11-18 - CECC Releases 2008 Annual Report on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Contacts:
Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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Congressional-Executive Commission on China Releases 2008 Annual Report on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in China

(Washington D.C.) - The Congressional-Executive Commission on China adopted its 2008 Annual Report on October 31 by a vote of 22 to 1. The 23-member Commission was created by Congress in 2000 to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China. The full text of this year's report is available on the Commission's website (www.cecc.gov), along with a PDF containing case records of 1,088 political prisoners currently detained or imprisoned in China.

"The findings of this year's Annual Report prompt us to consider not simply what the Chinese government and Communist Party may do in the months and years ahead, but what we must do differently in managing our relationship with China," said Representative Sander Levin, Chairman of the Commission in a joint statement with Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Co-Chairman of the Commission.

"In spite of what the Chinese government has written into its laws and regulations, China’s leaders in practice have failed to abide by their commitments, including commitments to WTO norms and other international economic norms, to worker rights, and to the free flow of information,” Levin and Dorgan said. "China’s rapid production of new legislation by itself is not a sign of progress...China's repeated failure to live up to its international commitments has seriously damaged its credibility."

The Report finds that "the Chinese government's and Communist Party’s increasing reliance on emergency measures as instruments of social control over the last year has underscored the downside risk of insufficient or ineffective rule of law reforms," and that “the Chinese government’s and Communist Party’s continuing crackdown on China’s ethnic minority citizens, ongoing manipulation of the media, and heightened repression of rights defenders reveal a level of state control over society that is incompatible with the development of the rule of law."

"China repeatedly has failed to abide by its commitments to internationally recognized standards," Levin said. “It is vital that there be continuing assessment of China’s commitments to individual human rights, including worker rights, and the safeguards of the rule of law. This is not a matter of one country meddling in the affairs of another. Other nations, including ours, have both the responsibility and a legitimate interest in ensuring compliance with international commitments."

The Commission consists of nine members of the House of Representatives, nine Senators and five senior Administration officials appointed by the President. The Commission’s Annual Report is among the most comprehensive, public examinations of the state of human rights and the rule of law in China produced by the US government.

Click here to view this press release on CECC Chairman Representative Sander Levin's website.

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2008-08-01 - CECC Chairman Sander Levin and Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan Issue Statement on China's Olympic Commitments

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Friday, August 1, 2008
Contact for Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC Chairman Sander Levin and Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan Issue Statement on China's Olympic Commitments

(Washington, D.C.) - China made a number of commitments in its quest to host the 2008 Olympic Summer Games. These included specific commitments to human rights, press freedom, openness and the environment. These commitments are documented and unmistakable. China plays an increasingly significant role in the international community, and it is vital that there be continuing assessment of its commitments, whether as a member of the WTO or as the awarded host of the Olympics. This is not a matter of one country meddling in the affairs of another. Other nations, including ours, have both the responsibility and a legitimate interest in ensuring compliance with these commitments.

On July 12, 2001, days before the International Olympic Committee voted to select Beijing as the site of the 2008 Olympics, Mr. Wang Wei, Secretary General of the Beijing Olympic Bid Committee, told the press, "(w)e are confident that the Games coming to China not only promotes our economy, but also enhances all social conditions, including education, health and human rights." These words could not have been clearer. Human rights and the 2008 Olympics were linked before Beijing was awarded the Games, and China itself linked them. And China was correct to do so. Let us be absolutely clear: criticism of China continues today not due to meddling, not due to "subversion," and not even because China is hosting the Olympics. Criticism continues because China's leaders refuse to live up to the international commitments they themselves publicly made.

Today, more than 800 individuals are known to be languishing at this very moment in jail cells across China simply for attempting to exercise their rights to speak, to write, to work, to organize, and to engage fully in spiritual and religious life. They are peasants, professors, parents, priests, and poets. They include those who were branded subversive for stating publicly that the protection of human rights mattered more to them than hosting the Olympic Games.

Beijing's Olympic bid documents stated "There will be no restrictions on journalists in reporting on the Olympic Games," and Beijing's Action Plan for the Olympics states that "(i)n the preparation for the Games, we will be open in every aspect to the rest of the country and the whole world." Yet the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China received reports of 160 cases of various forms of harassment against foreign journalists in China during 2007 and 110 cases just in the first six months of 2008.

Furthermore, journalists in Beijing's Olympic press facilities reported on July 30 that China blocked foreign reporters' access to foreign web sites, including those of organizations reporting on human rights issues related to the Olympic Games. Reporters in the Olympic press headquarters in Beijing today confirmed that some previously restricted sites had been unblocked, but whether these actions constitute full compliance with China's prior commitments remains to be seen.

Beijing's bid documents also stated that "Beijing promises to provide a clean environment for the athletes by 2008." Yet athletes from around the world are arriving in Beijing with anti-pollution masks, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering rescheduling endurance events such as the marathon to prevent health risks due to air pollution.

China's failure to meet the commitments it made in its quest for the Games — which, as this newsletter shows, are clear, documented and unmistakable — underscores serious questions about what China and other nations will do in the future if China's failure to meet its Olympics-related commitments continues.

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2008-07-03 - CECC Publishes New List of 734 Political Prisoners Currently Detained or Imprisoned in China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

July 3, 2008
Contact for CECC Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC's Political Prisoner Database: A Powerful Resource for Advocacy

(Washington, D.C.) - On June 26, 2008, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) published a partial list of political prisoners currently known or believed to be detained or imprisoned in China. The 214-page compilation, which contains information on 734 cases, is available for download by the public as a pdf at www.cecc.gov.

This new compilation (including case summaries) represents a subset of the more than 4,400 case records contained in the Commission's Political Prisoner Database, which has been accessible by the public since its launch in November 2004 (click here to begin a search). All of the information in the new compilation has been available previously to the public through http://ppd.cecc.gov. Members of Congress visiting Beijing earlier this week presented data on the 734 cases mentioned above to Chinese officials.

There has been heightened public interest in information on political imprisonment, censorship, and social control in China in the run up to the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, in the wake of public protest in Tibetan autonomous areas of China, and in connection with citizen action after the May 12 earthquake (click here for CECC analysis of recent developments).

In the years since its launch, the CECC's Political Prisoner Database has served as a unique and powerful resource for governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), educational institutions, and individuals who research political and religious imprisonment in China, or who advocate on behalf of such prisoners.

No list of Chinese political prisoner cases is ever likely to be complete as long as authorities in China do not themselves acknowledge that "political prisoners" exist in China, or as long as officials in China hinder the flow of information about such cases. There are hundreds of cases of Tibetan political detention resulting from the Tibetan protests on and after March 10 that are not yet listed, as well as a number of cases involving political detention of Uighurs, members of unauthorized religious communities, Falun Gong practitioners, and advocates for worker rights, the environment, civil society, and other individuals whose cases the Commission is researching and documenting for the public.

For more information on political imprisonment in China, see "Political Prisoner Database: A Powerful Resource for Advocacy" on pages 31-33 of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China's 2007 Annual Report.

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2008-06-25 - CECC Chairman and Co-Chairman Issue Statement on China's Legal Development

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Contacts:
Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC Chairman and Co-Chairman Issue Statement on China's Legal Development

In the wake of the crackdown on protests in Tibetan areas of China, the aftermath of the tragic earthquake of May 12, and with the many challenges China faces in the run-up to the Olympic Summer Games, it remains unclear at this time what factors will set the course of China’s future development of the rule of law. By the “rule of law,” we mean true rule of law, not documents stamped with the word “law” that officials then allow to become so divorced from effective implementation that the distinction between the promulgation of law and the making of propaganda becomes blurred.

Effective implementation remains a growing concern in China in part because it places the credibility of three decades of legal and regulatory reform at ever-increasing risk. In its last Annual Report, this Commission noted four factors that appeared to be highly influential in determining the course of China’s future legal development.

First, China’s leaders’ increasing intolerance of citizen activism.

Second, increasing, and increasingly obvious, manipulation of law for politically expedient purposes.

Third, a concerted effort to ensure that sensitive disputes do not enter legal channels, thereby insulating the Central government from the backlash of national policy problems.

Fourth, the growing impact outside of China of its domestic problems of implementation.

The Commission’s 2007 Annual Report explicitly noted that “the impact of emergencies” and China’s response to emergencies “will both shape and be shaped by China’s rule of law reforms. Because their impact on the course of rule of law in China is expected to be large, these developments are covered here in added detail.” That was nearly six months before the Tibetan protests, and eight months before the recent earthquake. Of course the emergencies to which the Report referred were not these (it discussed food safety, product quality and climate change), but the notion that emergencies per se would become a major element structuring the course of China’s future legal development was a significant observation.

In this newsletter, as in the Commission’s recent June 18 hearing titled, “What Will Drive China’s Future Legal Development? Reports from the Field,” the Commission continues its ongoing effort to accurately understand what factors will determine the course of the development of the rule of law in China, and what impact these factors will have on creating an atmosphere of progress for China’s citizens.

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2008-06-18 - CECC Chairman Sander Levin's Opening Statement at Hearing on China's Future Legal Development

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Contact for CECC Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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Statement of U.S. Representative Sander Levin
Chairman, Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Hearing on "What Will Drive China's Future Legal Development? Reports from the Field"

June 18, 2008

"Nearly six decades ago, in 1949, Mao Zedong spoke near Tiananmen and announced that "the Chinese people have stood up." The world took note.

"Nearly two decades ago, on June 4, 1989, the Chinese people stood up again at Tiananmen, but China's leaders ordered them to stand down. Many defied that order, choosing instead to remain faithful to their aspirations. We all remember how China responded. The world took note.

"Less than one decade ago, On July 13, 2001, the Chinese people stood at Tiananmen again, this time to celebrate the success of Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Summer Games. China's leaders made a number of very concrete commitments in connection with Beijing's bid, including commitments to hasten progress in human rights and the rule of law, and they repeatedly promised the world that China would fulfill these commitments in the period leading up to the Olympic Summer Games. The world took note.

"The world takes note that China's leaders repeatedly tell the world that the Chinese people stand and speak, but at the same time repeatedly shows the world that those of its citizens who most vigorously display fidelity to the aspirations of the Chinese people to remain standing and to speak freely are silenced.

"This Commission was created by Congress and the President in 2000 to monitor and report on China's compliance with international human rights standards and the development of the rule of law. A hearing held by this Commission in February of this year documented and examined the commitments that China has made in connection with its Olympics bid and its preparations for the 2008 Summer Games.

"I draw your attention to this booklet which contains a full transcript of the hearing, as well as full witness statements and other useful resources. Please be sure to take a copy from the table in the back, or download the pdf version from the Commission's web site, www.cecc.gov. There you will read in detail how China committed to progress on press freedom, on the environment, on basic human rights, on openness in general, and in many other areas. You will see why it is reasonable to say that the record remains highly disappointing.

"I should say that the new Regulations on Open Government Information may be one possible exception — I say "possible" because implementation of this new measure, though potentially promising, is still in the very early stages.

"Nonetheless it remains unclear at this time what factors will set the course of China's future legal development. And that is why we are doubly privileged to listen today to four people whose commitment to the development of the rule of law in China has been unwavering.

"And let me make clear that, by the "rule of law," I mean true rule of law, not documents stamped with the word "law" that officials then allow to become so divorced from effective implementation that the distinction between the promulgation of law and the making of propaganda becomes meaningless. For that appears to be exactly what has occurred in many areas of the law in China. It is a growing concern in no small part because it places the credibility of three decades legal and regulatory reform at ever-increasing risk.

"In its 2007 Annual Report, this Commission noted four factors that appeared to be highly influential in determining the course of China's future legal development.

First, China's leaders' increasing intolerance of citizen activism.
Second, increasing, and increasingly obvious, manipulation of law for politically expedient purposes.
Third, a concerted effort to ensure that sensitive disputes do not enter legal channels, thereby insulating the Central government from the backlash of national policy problems.
Fourth, the growing impact outside of China of its domestic problems of implementation.

"Let me also note that the Commission's 2007 Annual Report explicitly noted that "the impact of emergencies" and China's response to emergencies "will both shape and be shaped by China's rule of law reforms. Because their impact on the course of rule of law in China is expected to be large, these developments are covered here in added detail."

"That was nearly six months before the Tibetan protests, and eight months before the recent earthquake. Of course the emergencies to which the Report referred were not these (it discussed food safety, product quality and climate change), but the notion that emergencies per se would become a major element structuring the course of China's future legal development was a significant observation.

"Today I would ask our panelists to tell us from their own first hand experience the factors that we should keep in mind as we evaluate the status of rule of law issues in China and their impact on creating an atmosphere of progress for China's citizens."

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2008-06-18 - CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan's Opening Statement at Hearing on China's Future Legal Development

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Contact:
Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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Statement of U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan
Co-Chairman, Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Hearing on "What Will Drive China's Future Legal Development?
Reports from the Field"

June 18, 2008

The purpose of today's hearing is to examine China's legal development. For three decades now, China has engaged in legal reform. But it seems to be at a stand still, and it is unclear at this point whether that means it has stalled or is at a turning point.

Why does it appear to be at a stand still?

Well, first, the massive earthquake that tragically killed and injured tens of thousands of people, too many of them children. Second, the violent crackdown that began in March continues in Tibetan areas. Beijing has closed off most Tibetan areas, and detained or expelled journalists. Finally, the Summer Olympic Games are fast approaching. Hosting the Olympic Games has highlighted some of Beijing's achievements. We don't and shouldn't deny them that. But even more it has highlighted Beijing's terrible record on human rights and the environment. As the Olympic torch circled the globe, Beijing's Olympic dream became a public-relations nightmare.

These three events are having an enormous impact on many areas in China, including legal reform and human rights. And that is why we are here today.

At the Commission's February hearing on the Olympics, I submitted for the record a list of political prisoners. Here is an update on just one: Hu Jia, a courageous activist, was jailed last December by Chinese authorities for comments he made at a European Parliament hearing. His comments were critical of China's hosting the Olympics. At the time of the CECC hearing, his wife and 4 month old daughter had been under house arrest for several months. In April, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power." Hu has severe health problems. His request to be released on bail for medical treatment was denied in June. His wife and baby remain under constant surveillance, and face harassment.

Every country that has hosted the Olympics has had its critics - both at home and abroad. China has dissenting voices too on the Olympics -- like Hu Jia. But instead of being tolerant, it has hit back hard with a combo punch of intimidation and imprisonment.

The Commission is dedicated to understanding these events on a deep level. For that reason, we have called four prominent Tiananmen Square activists and now internationally renown figures in human rights and rule of law in China. We hope they will address two straightforward questions:

What factors are most likely to determine the course of China's legal development in the coming year and beyond?
What factors do Western analysts more frequently tend to overlook or misinterpret?

I would ask each of our witnesses to highlight for us the factors that, in each of your varied experiences, and unique perspectives this Commission should focus on in order to most effectively understand the course that China's legal development is taking and will take as events unfold.

It would be helpful if you would focus specifically on steps China has taken to combat corruption and to maintain popular support for further reform, and on prospects for the enforcement of worker rights, collective bargaining, and labor unions.

I would also ask that you comment on the regulation of religious life and of minorities, and trends in pre-Olympic crackdown.

Finally, I would also ask each of our witnesses to make a point also of identifying for us the one or two factors that, in your experience, Western analysts most frequently overlook, misunderstand, or plainly misinterpret. Your complete candor will be most helpful and appreciated.

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2008-05-14 - CECC Chairman Sander Levin and Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan Issue Condolence Message Following Major Earthquake in Sichuan Province

On behalf of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, we express our most heartfelt condolences to the Chinese people for the terrible loss of life and injury suffered as a result of Monday’s tragic earthquake. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those who now must endure the pain and heartbreak of losing family and friends. We sincerely hope for the complete success of all rescue efforts, the health and welfare of China’s emergency responders, and the speedy recovery of all those who have been injured. We offer our full support and hope for recovery and healing at this difficult time.

Sander Levin, Chair | Byron L. Dorgan, Co-Chair

14 May 2008

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2008-04-09 - CECC Chairman Sander Levin Speaks in Support of House Resolution on Tibet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Contact for CECC Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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CECC Chairman Sander Levin Speaks in Support of House Resolution on Tibet

(Washington D.C.)- The House of Representatives today voted to approve House Resolution 1077, “Calling Upon Chinese Government to End Crackdown in Tibet and Begin Substantive Dialogue with the Dalai Lama,” by a vote of 413-1. The resolution calls on China to end its crackdown in Tibet; enter into a substantive dialogue directly with the Dalai Lama; allow independent monitors, journalists and medical personnel into Tibet; and release all Tibetans who were arrested for non-violently expressing their political views.

Congressman Sander Levin, Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, spoke on the House floor in support of the resolution. Following are Chairman Levin’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:

"Chinese law includes protections for the distinctive culture, language and identity of ethnic minority citizens. China's Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law guarantees ethnic minorities the ‘right to administer their internal affairs.' More specifically, the term ‘regional ethnic autonomy,’ as the law itself defines it, ‘reflects the state's full respect for ethnic minorities’ right to administer their internal affairs.’ Madame Speaker, China in recent weeks has reflected anything but “the state’s full respect” of ethnic minority rights, nor of basic human rights standards recognized in both Chinese and international law.

"Let us be absolutely clear: Tibetan protests continue not because China is hosting the Olympics. Tibetan protests continue not as a result of foreign influence. Tibetan protests began and continue for one reason: in spite of what the Chinese government has written in its laws, in practice it has created an ethnic autonomy system that denies fundamental rights to ethnic minorities. This could not be more clear than it has become in the last several weeks, and the time for change is now.

"Protest activity has included instances of rioting resulting in destruction of property and death of Tibetans and non-Tibetans alike. This is unacceptable in any context. Most protest activity, however, while at times disorderly, has been non-violent. The Chinese government’s reaction, however, has revealed a level of hostility toward Tibetans not seen in decades, and has heightened fears for the Tibetan people.

"The Chinese government would do well to consider a number of concrete steps to address the current crisis. I would ask, Madame Speaker, that a list of such steps, prepared by the staff of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, be submitted for the record [this document included below].

"I would urge all my colleagues and the general public to take full advantage of the Commission’s analysis not only of events in Tibetan areas, but across China. We cannot let recent events distract us from abuses of law and fundamental rights of the Uighur people of China’s Xinjiang province and other areas of China, and of the Han Chinese themselves. The Commission monitors and reports on human rights and rule of law developments in China on an ongoing basis, and I encourage all frequently to visit the Commission’s website—www.cecc.gov—to subscribe to the on line newsletter, and use the Commission’s work to remain up-to-date on developments in China.

"Finally, the resolution of Tibetan grievances can occur only with direct talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. Moreover, as China plays an increasingly important role in the international community, other countries will appropriately assess China’s fulfillment of the commitments it has made in both Chinese and international law, including legal and constitutional commitments to ethnic minorities. The international spotlight will remain long after the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Summer Games. We hope that the Chinese government will welcome such attention with a full commitment to openness, and to the implementation of basic human rights”

ADDENDUM

to

Floor Statement of Representative Sander Levin

Chairman, Congressional-Executive Commission on China

April 8, 2008

Addressing Tibetan Protests

1. Distinguish between peaceful protestors and rioters, honor the Chinese Constitution’s reference to the freedoms of speech and association, and do not treat peaceful protest as a crime;

2. Provide a detailed account of Tibetan protest activity in each location where such activity took place;

3. Provide details about each person detained or charged with a crime, including each person’s name, the charges (if any) against each person, the name and location of the prosecuting office (“procuratorate”) and court handling each case, and the name of each facility where a person is detained or imprisoned;

4. Allow access by diplomats and other international observers to the trials of people charged with protest-related crimes;

5. Allow international observers and journalists immediate and unfettered access to Tibetan areas of China;

6. Ensure that security officials fulfill their obligations under Articles 64(2) and 71(2) of China’s Criminal Procedure Law to inform relatives and work places (monasteries in the case of monks) where detainees are being held;

7. Encourage and facilitate the filing of compensation suits under Chinese law in cases of alleged wrongful arrest, detention, punishment and other official abuses during the recent protests;

8. Permit international observers to monitor closely the implementation of China’s new Regulation on Open Government Information, which comes into force on May 1, 2008, with special emphasis on implementation in Tibetan areas.

9. Strictly enforce the Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists During the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period, with special emphasis on access to and in Tibetan areas of China.

10. Commence direct talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama.

Click here to view this press release on Congressman Levin's web site.

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2008-02-27 - CECC Chairman Sander Levin's Opening Statement at Hearing on The Impact of the Olympics on Human Rights in China

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Contact for Chairman Sander Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777
Contact for Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798

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Statement of the Honorable Sander Levin
Chairman, Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)

Hearing on "The Impact of the 2008 Olympic Games on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in China"

February 27, 2008

"The Commission convenes this hearing to examine the likely impact of the 2008 Summer Olympics on human rights and the rule of law in China. In its Olympic bid documents and in its preparations for the 2008 Summer Games, China made commitments pertaining to human rights and the rule of law. Our witnesses today will help us to evaluate these commitments and to assess the openness with which China has allowed the rest of the world to monitor its progress in fulfilling them.

"In the days before the International Olympic Committee voted to select Beijing as the site of the 2008 Olympics, there was consideration of human rights and related issues, as had been the case in previous deliberations about appropriate sites for the Olympics. China made a point of raising the link between human rights and the 2008 Games. On July 12, 2001, the state-run China Daily reported that Wang Wei, Secretary General of the Beijing Olympic bid committee, said, "We are confident that the Games coming to China not only promotes our economy, but also enhances all social conditions, including education, health and human rights." These words could not have been clearer. Human rights and the 2008 Olympics were linked before Beijing was awarded the Games, and China itself linked them.

"Just yesterday, China's Foreign Minister announced that China is ready to resume the human rights dialogue with the United States that it broke off in 2004. This announcement underlines the relevance of this hearing, which was announced several weeks ago, and means that there is considerable and appropriate ground to cover today.

"On press freedom, Beijing's bid documents stated, "(t)here will be no restrictions on journalists in reporting on the Olympic Games." At the same time, they also stated, "(t)here will be no restriction concerning the use of media material produced in China and intended principally for broadcast outside."

"On openness in general, Beijing's Action Plan for the Olympics states, "in the preparation for the Games, we will be open in every aspect to the rest of the country and the whole world." On government transparency more specifically, Beijing's Action Plan for the Olympics states, "Government work will be open to public supervision and information concerning major Olympic construction projects shall be made public regularly."

"This last point deserves extra attention because it underscores the importance of China's new Regulation on the Public Disclosure of Government Information, which takes effect on May 1 of this year. This new Regulation promises people in China the legal means to obtain access to government records related to construction, labor affairs, health and safety, the environment, and much more before the Games begin and also after. The Commission looks forward to reporting on the implementation of this important new Regulation in the weeks and months ahead.

"Much of the world's attention also has focused on China's environment. Beijing's bid documents stated, "By 2008, the environmental quality in Beijing will be comparable to that of major cities in developed countries, with clean and fresh air, a beautiful environment, and healthy ecology. Meteorological observations in the area of Beijing in the past 10 years have indicated that July and August are good time to hold the Olympic Games."

"I must note that China's security preparations for the Olympics also raise concerns. Congress banned the transfer of crime control equipment to China after the Tiananmen killings of 1989. Nonetheless, recent press reports describe the export from the U.S. to China of equipment identified as commercial, but with crime control applications. This merits attention because after the Olympics, high-technology surveillance products will be left in the hands of China's public security and state security organs, who may use them to monitor political activists, religious practitioners, and members of certain ethnic minority groups.

"The Commission asked Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Mario Mancuso to testify today, but he is in India on official business and unfortunately could not join us. However he has offered to respond to questions in writing. A list is being prepared, and I invite members to add to it.

"China does not want to be labeled as a gross violator of human rights. And yet it makes its determination to eliminate dissent painfully clear to the world. Thousands of prisoners of conscience languish in jail cells across China. Just in the last few weeks, China has detained individuals who have mentioned the Olympics when speaking out for human rights. Officials have cast their public-mindedness as a subversion of state power. These same authorities assert that raising concern over human rights in the context of the 2008 Games violates the Olympic spirit. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Fairness on the field of play, fair judgments and the opportunity to witness human potential unleashed to the fullest extent are the very essence of the Olympic spirit. They are also the essence of freedom and fundamental human rights.

"In seeking the 2008 Olympics, China made specific commitments. Seven years have passed, and the Games begin in less than six months. This hearing is a necessary part of determining whether China is fulfilling its commitments. China is an increasingly important part of the international community, and it is vital that there be continuing assessment of its commitments, whether as a member of the WTO or as the awarded host of the Olympics. Other nations, including ours, have both the responsibility and a legitimate interest in ensuring compliance with those commitments."

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2008-02-27 - CECC Co-Chairman Byron Dorgan's Opening Statement at Hearing on The Impact of the Olympics on Human Rights in China

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Contact for Co-Chairman Dorgan: Charlotte Oldham-Moore 202-226-3798
Contact for Chairman Levin: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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Statement of U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan
Co-Chairman, Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Hearing on "The Impact of the 2008 Olympic Games on
Human Rights and the Rule of Law in China"

February 27, 2008

Mr. Chairman, I want to commend you for holding this hearing today. It will explore what I believe has been a largely unexamined issue: whether the 2008 Olympics will in fact bring lasting benefits to the Chinese people by enhancing their human rights and accelerating rule of law reform.

The 2008 Olympics have focused the world's attention on China's support for repressive regimes, such as Sudan and Burma. And, this has been all for the good. Our government and the international community, however, have paid too little attention to the potential impact of the Games on the human rights of ordinary Chinese citizens.

China views the 2008 Olympics as not merely an international athletic event, but as recognition of its global economic, diplomatic and military power. It is a political event of great significance. It will confirm China's acceptance as a proud and prominent participant on the international stage. Whether Beijing will seize the opportunity presented by the Olympics to improve its record and recast its human rights legacy remains a vital open question.

Beijing lost its bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games, in part, because of the long shadow cast by the Chinese government's crackdown on the Tiananmen Square democracy movement in 1989.

Government negotiators worked to secure a better outcome for their second effort to the host the games. They were successful, in part, by promising the International Olympic Committee that China would commit itself to significant reforms. These included allowing international reporters unfettered access across the country, and substantial improvements in air quality. Today, however, foreign journalists say they and their Chinese colleagues and interviewees are being harassed. And, the smog in Beijing remains as thick as ever.

The Games are now just six months away. The human rights situation on the ground is deeply troubling. Already, China has begun detaining citizens who have tied the Olympics to their peaceful criticism of the government's human rights record. Recently, China jailed Hu Jia, a courageous dissident who did nothing more than address a hearing on the Olympics. The hearing was quite similar to this one, and before the European Parliament. China insists that Mr. Hu's actions violated its laws on state secrets. As a result, he was dragged from his home by state police agents and now sits in jail. His wife and three-month old daughter remain in their apartment under house arrest. Their telephone and internet connections are cut.

Just last week, Yang Chunlin, an unemployed factory worker, went on trial for subversion in northeast China. Mr. Yang was arrested last year for reportedly helping nearby villagers seeking compensation for lost land. He had collected more than 10,000 signatures from local farmers. The signatures were for a letter which read, "We Want Human Rights, not the Olympics." Prosecutors have said that the letter stained China's international image, and that it amounted to subversion.

What if China had done the opposite? Instead of punishing Yang for his activism, what if the government had instead acknowledged his underlying message? Had that course been chosen, China would have improved its international image in one fell swoop. Instead, China further stained it.

Mr. Chairman, I would ask that the following list of political prisoners in China be entered into the hearing record. It is a short, representative list of individuals detained in recent years by the government for Olympics-related or other activities. The most important thing to notice about this list, Mr. Chairman, is that each of the people on it is in jail for having done nothing wrong. They did nothing wrong.

I am not only concerned by China's detention of citizen activists. I am also concerned about the treatment of large numbers of migrant workers who have been employed to manufacture Olympic merchandise and construct Olympic sites. These migrant workers, like millions of others across China, are required to work under the most hazardous conditions. They are routinely cheated out of their wages, and rarely have work-related medical insurance or labor contracts.

China has passed new and important legislation in the labor area, but implementation does not appear yet to be addressing the needs of those most in need of relief, those whom these laws were intended to protect. This Commission will remain focused on problems of implementation in the year to come.

The rights of workers, the right to speak freely, the right to challenge the government - all of these are enshrined in China's constitution. Yet, all of these are chronically violated. In such circumstances, it is crucial that we who can exercise these rights and defenses debate the reality in China, and question whether China is fulfilling its commitments on the Olympics.”

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
Hearing on "The Impact of the 2008 Olympic Games on
Human Rights and the Rule of Law in China"

February 27, 2008

Cases of Political Imprisonment in China

1. Hu Jia: A prominent activist who has advocated on behalf of HIV/AIDS patients, environmental issues, and other rights defenders, Hu was detained by Chinese authorities on December 27, 2007 on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power." Hu's detention may be linked to comments he made at a European Parliament hearing that were critical of China's hosting of the Olympics.

2. Yang Chunlin: As a land rights activist, Yang reportedly collected more than 10,000 signatures from farmers for a letter titled "We Want Human Rights, Not the Olympics," protesting the farmers' loss of land. Yang was detained in July 2007, and stood trial on charges of "inciting subversion of state power," on February 19.

3. Wu Lihong: An environmental activist from Jiangsu province, Wu spent more than a decade documenting pollution in Lake Tai, including providing environmental information to the government and the media. Shortly after Wu was detained in April 2007, Lake Tai experienced one of the worst blue-algae blooms, with millions of area residents without water for a few days. Wu was sentenced in August 2007 to three years in prison on the pretext of extortion and fraud.

4. Guo Feixiong: Guo is a prominent lawyer who was active in helping ordinary Chinese citizens defend their rights. In November 2007, Guo was sentenced to five years in prison for "illegal operation of a business," for allegedly distributing a publication without the necessary government license. The publication, which concerned a political scandal, reportedly angered local officials.

5. Ronggyal Adrag: A Tibetan nomad, Adrag was detained in August 2007 after he walked onto the speakers' stage at a horse-racing festival and called for the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet, the release of the Panchen Lama identified by the Dalai Lama, and Tibetan independence. In October, a court sentenced him to eight years in prison on the charge of "inciting splittism."

6. Adrug Lupoe: A nephew of Ronggyal Adrag, Adrug Lupoe is a monk who was sentenced by the same court to 10 years' imprisonment on charges of splittism and espionage. He allegedly helped two other men attempt to send digital photos out of China of the local security crackdown.

7. Nurmemet Yasin: He is an ethnic Uighur writer from Xinjiang who wrote a short story in 2004 about caged bird who chooses suicide over living without freedom. Chinese authorities viewed the story as an attack on government policy in Xinjiang, and sentenced him in 2005 to 10 years in prison for "inciting splittism."

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2008-01-31 - CECC Notes Worsening Human Rights Climate in the Run-Up to the Beijing Olympic Games

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

Thursday, January 31, 2008
Contact: Doug Grob 202-226-3777

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CECC Notes Worsening Human Rights Climate in the Run-Up to the Beijing Olympic Games

Official Chinese statements express that the 2008 Olympic Summer Games may be a catalyst for lasting progress in areas important to the advancement of human rights and the rule of law. The Commission is concerned, however, about a steadily worsening human rights climate in the run up to the Summer Games. The articles in this newsletter substantiate that concern. The suppression of citizen activism in the name of preserving social stability remains a recurring theme. China's leaders choose to regard the active involvement of citizens in spotlighting social, political, environmental, and economic problems as a source of social unrest. The Commission recognizes such public-mindedness by citizens as a source of hope.

In increasingly sophisticated ways, China uses law to cloak strategies of control in the appearance of accommodation to the needs and aspirations of the Chinese people. And the plight of political prisoners in China continues. At the same time, China's citizens accept the risks of activism in increasing numbers—and suffer the consequences. Readers of this newsletter will find that there is considerable room for progress to be made if China is to live up to its international commitments to advance human rights and the rule of law. The Commission looks forward to detailing that record fully in the months ahead.

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2007-12-09 - CECC Statement for United Nations' Human Rights Day 2007

Congressional-Executive Commission on China
www.cecc.gov

December 9, 2007
CECC Contact: 202-226-3777

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CECC Statement for United Nations' Human Rights Day 2007:
China Continues To Fall Short of Its Commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(Washington D.C.) - The United Nations' Human Rights Day, observed each year on December 10, commemorates the anniversary of the General Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. December 10, 2007, also marks the start of a one-year campaign, with the theme of "dignity and justice for all of us," to mark the Universal Declaration's 60th anniversary in 2008. The Universal Declaration enshrines a core set of rights and freedoms that individuals everywhere enjoy. China voted to adopt the Universal Declaration in 1948, and the current Chinese government has continued to commit itself to upholding human rights through international agreements and its own domestic law. In practice, however, the Chinese government does not guarantee these rights.

In the past year, in spite of progress in some areas, Chinese officials implemented policies that undermined the promotion of human rights. Controls over free expression stifled not only political dissent but also obstructed the free flow of information in the aftermath of crises involving forced labor and food safety. China failed to vigorously enforce wage and workplace safety policies for workers, and continued to deny them the right to form independent unions to engage in true collective bargaining. New regulations on religion strengthened government interference in the internal affairs of religious communities. The government bolstered controls over civil society organizations; maintained policies that restrict residents' freedom to choose their permanent place of residence; and expelled North Korean refugees from China's borders. It continued to impose population planning policies that exert government control over women's reproductive lives, punish non-compliance, and engender additional abuses at the local level by implementing officials. Citizens who challenged government actions faced harassment, detention, and other abuses.

The 2008 Olympic Games are a temporary spotlight on China. But China's commitment to full compliance with internationally recognized human rights standards must be meaningful and enduring, for only then will it be understood as a true commitment to the principles of dignity and justice for all enshrined in the Universal Declaration. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China is committed by mandate to be a permanent spotlight, and calls on China's government to comply with its international and domestic obligations to guarantee the human rights of all its citizens, and of all who enter China's borders.

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