rzhu@watmath.waterloo.edu (Rupert Zhu) (02/08/91)
********************************************************************** IFCSS Liaison Office News Release No. 2091, Feburary 7, 1991 Fang Lizhi's Washington D.C. Visit ********************************************************************** IFCSS 733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440 Washing D.C. 20005 Tele: (202)347-0017 Fax: (202)347-0018 E-Mail: ifcss@hal.cwru.edu Dear IFCSS Members: Prof. Fang Lizhi and his wife, Prof. Li Shuxian, had a casual meeting with some representatives of IFCSS in the evening of Tue., Feb. 5. Chen Xingyu, Zhang Xiaochuan, Liu Jijie, Huang Liuqing, Huang Yuangeng, Li Ping, Hang Lianchao, Liu Yadong and Xiao Qiang attended the meeting. Also attended were IFCSS Advisors Elaine Budd and Rich Schwartz. The Fangs arrived in Washington D.C. on Mon. Feb. 4. Monday evening, Amnesty International held a reception for them. Prof. Fang delivered a speech on the occasion in which he expressed profound thanks to those who supported them when they were in difficulty. He thanked the United States for its hospitality to them. He also expressed his personal appreciation to members of the Congress, staff of the State Department and U.S. administrations, including President George Bush, who personally worked to arrange their safe departure from China. In his speech, Prof. Fang pointed out that "the Chinese leaders has used the distraction of the war in the Persian Gulf to intensify the repression of those fighting for democracy and freedom in China." "This is a new desecration by the Chinese authorities of the universal principles of human rights", Prof. Fang remarked, "[i]t is clear that the struggle for human rights and freedom in China is far from over." Prof. Fang said that the human rights problem is a global problem. "China's human rights problems are also the world's problem. The Tiananmen massacre not only caused China to suffer; it polluted the world environment as well." Prof. Fang said the best way he could respond to the honor that people bestowed to him "is to insist on the principle of human rights, and to remain diligent in the work to gain more freedom for China and for the world." "It may take a decade, a generation, or even longer" for freedom and democracy to come to China," Prof. Fang said. But he believes that "the time of freedom and human rights in China eventually will come." He said that "[t]he world will never forget the men and women of Tiananmen in 1989 who paid with their lives for freedom in China. "The commitment they make yesterday is still the commitment we should make today," he said, "[i]t is truly a dream that shall never die." IFCSS officers Chen Xingyu and Liu Jijie attended the reception. Professor Fang Lizhi met with members and staff of the House China working group of Congress in the morning of Tue., Feb. 5. Chen Xingyu also attended the meeting. The meeting was hosted by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. Prof. Fang made the following points in the meeting: A. human rights situation in China is no longer a Chinese matter, but rather a global problem. There should be no special standard for human rights in China; B. there cannot be economic and political development without the true improvement of human rights record in China; and C. the Congressional effort of tying human rights with U.S. economic policy towards China worked, the release of themselves (Prof. Fang and his wife) is one of the examples. Prof. Fang also suggested the Congress to be concerned about the cases that Chinese students and scholars in the U.S. have been denied renewal of passport. After the meeting, a hearing was held for Prof. Fang Lizhi by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. Prof. Fang delivered a much detailed testimony about the human rights condition in China and about the U.S. policy making forwards China. Chen Xingyu also attended the hearing. On Fab. 6, Professor Fang Lizhi and Professor Li Shuxian visited the Senate Majority leader George Mitchell, Minority leader Bob Dole, Congressman, Chairman of House Sub-committee of Asian and Pacific Affairs Stephen Solarz and Congressman Don Pease, author of HR45. Chen Xingyu accompanied them on the visits. Members of the Congress expressed the pleasure to meet with Prof. Fang and his wife and admiration for the Fangs' effort to improve human rights and freedom in China. They especially expressed their concern about the on-going trials and sentences to the pro-democracy demonstrators imposed by the Chinese authority and willingness to share the ideas with Professor Fang for possible legislative actions to stop such suppression. In the meeting with Senator Dole, Professor Fang indicated that, in principle, a good trade relation with China would promote free market system and help bringing democracy to China. But nothing in China can be separated from politics. Without the improvement of human rights records, there can not be a normal trade relation. He emphasized that pressure from international societies, especially from the United States Congress and Administration, does help the situation. Chen Xingyu added that a statement from the Senator will have a strong impact. Senator Dole agreed. He said he is willing to call the Chinese Ambassador to express his concern, and asked to have a list of these have been tried and sentenced, and these who are waiting for trials, and a list of the students and scholars who have been denied for passport renewal. Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Jim Leach joined the meeting with Congressman Stephen Solarz. Congressman Solarz started with a number of questions about the situation in China and Professor Fang's opinion on the issue of MFN. It is clear that, said Professor Fang, greater international pressure makes a difference. For example, the number one student leader, Wang Dan, was sentenced for 4 years while a relatively unknown student leader in Qingdao was sentenced for 18 years. One would expect Wang Dan to have much longer term, of course both of them shouldn't be sentenced at all. The only reason is that there was no world attention given to the student in Qingdao. The legislative debate in the Congress last year was responded closely by the Chinese authority, even the bill was not passed, the release of some hundreds of the pro-democracy demonstrators and the free of his wife and himself are proofs. MFN is the only leverage that can make the Chinese authority to do some thing, because they cannot afford to lose it. Therefore, the Congress should continue the legislative effort to link MFN with human rights in China. The members of Congress indicated that they will work on the issue, and they invited Professor Fang to testify in their committee. The meeting with Congressman Don Pease went directly into technical part, since Congressman Pease is the author of the last year House legislation (HR45). Congressman Pease is willing to work closely with the Senate side on the issue to gain cooperative progress. Senator Mitchell asked, during the meeting, what is the most effect action the Congress can take to stop the on-going persecuting in China. The answer given by Professor Fang is to condition MFN. Unfortunately, Fang said, that is the only language the Chinese authority understands. Senator Ed Kennedy later joined the meeting. The Senators asked professor Fang to share his ideas about the conditions with them. Debates on the war were taking place in the Congress, but members were able to manage to meet with Professor Fang. They consider that situations in China are as important. Professor Fang Lizhi and Professor Li Shu Xian left Washington D.C. on Wednesday evening. ********************************************************************** IFCSS Liaison Office (Signature) **********************************************************************