rzhu@watmath.waterloo.edu (Rupert Zhu) (02/06/91)
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IFCSS Liaison Office News Release No. 2090, Feburary 4, 1991
Report of the Jan. 8th's Meeting With Schifter
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IFCSS
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Tele: (202)347-0017
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Dear IFCSS Members:
(Because the computer crushed in IFCSS office, this file was lost
before finished. We have to retype it again. This is why it be posted
so late. We are sorry for the late release of this report.)
Invited by the State Department, Chen Xingyu, Zhang Xiaochuan, Ge
Xun, Chen Yizi and Li Lu had a meeting with the Human Rights Assistant
Secretary Richard Schifter and his senior assistants on Wednesday,
Jan. 8. Mr. Schifter has just come back from China recently. They
shared many ideas about the human rights issue, especially the case in
China.
On the hosts' side, Mr. Schifter told the visitors that the long
term commitment for human rights of the United States won't change.
This commitment is not only for the case of China, but other countries
too. He pointed out that human rights is not the standard of the
United Stated. Rather, it is a Universal Declaration. This is the
foundation of U.S. foreign policy.
Mr. Schifter said the State Department had already shown their
disappointment of the recent trial in China. He told the visitors that
the U.S. government is very concerned about the human rights situation
in China. The concrete expression of this concern was his recent trip
to China.
Mr. Schifter briefly introduced his China trip. He had emphasized
repeatedly, he said, the above mentioned standpoints to many Chinese
officials.
Mr. Schifter made a point to the visitors that one should look
for the best way of doing things. It won't be resulted in a productive
way until the things being done appropriately.
In the last, he told the visitors that although there is a strong
tension in the Gulf area, which attracted most of the attention of the
whole world, including the United States, and the media, the recent
trials in China were not neglected by the U.S. government.
On the visitors' side, they appreciated Mr. Schifter for him
going to China specially for human rights issue. They thanked the
Assistant Secretary for all his efforts in improving the human rights
situation in China. Also, they were pleased to see, the visitors told
their hosts, the administrative shares the similar point of views with
them on this issue. They told Mr. Schifter that U.S. government really
can do something to exert pressure to Chinese government to improve
the human rights in China, especially the recent trials to the June
4th victims. Also the visitors told Mr. Schifter those who were
sentenced are not guilty at all. On the contrary, they did a lot for
the development and social reform in China.
The five visitors talked from different perspectives. Ge Xun
talked about his personal experience in Beijing. He said he had a
strong feeling that people in China indeed need help from the
international society for the improvement of the human rights
situation in China.
Chen Yizi pointed out that human rights is a very fundamental
issue. Not only in China, but other countries have the same problem.
The U.S. government has to keep a stable standpoint on this issue.
Otherwise it would be very hard to avoid the similar situation occur
in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Schifter agreed with this point of view.
Chen Xingyu said that the trials for the June fourth victims were
illegal. Those people are totally innocent. Some people think the
results of the trials were comparatively lenient because the period of
the imprisonments were not very long. Actually it is wrong to think it
in this way. No matter how short, even only one day, it is a violation
of the human rights to put those people into jail.
Mr. Schifter said this is the same thought as expressed in the
statement of the State Department.
From his personal knowledge, Li Lu talked about those victims who
are in jail as he knows. He described how peaceful and how rational
they are. The demand and actions of those people, he said, are within
the rights endowed by Chinese Constitution.
Zhang, Xiaochuan talked the issue from the perspective of foreign
policy. He suggest the American government should combine its foreign
and economic policy with the human rights situation in China, and take
some effective measurement now to prevent the further persecution of
the Beijing authorities.
Through the conversation with Assistant Secretary Schifter and
his senior assistants, the visitors established a good relation of
dialog with them. Before their leaving, the Assistant Secretary told
them to keep contact with his office.
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IFCSS Liaison Office (Signature)
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