[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 125 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 125

 Recognizing the founding of the Alliance for Reform and Democracy in 
                     Asia, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 3, 2001

    Mr. Dreier (for himself and Mr. Lantos) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the founding of the Alliance for Reform and Democracy in 
                     Asia, and for other purposes.

Whereas authoritarian governments in Asia deny people basic freedoms of belief, 
        speech, and association and engage in intimidation and other human 
        rights abuses to ensure that any political opposition is nonexistent or 
        weak;
Whereas established and emerging democracies in Asia offer hope and inspiration 
        to democrats and reformers across the region;
Whereas democracy activists in Asia are firmly committed to advancing democracy, 
        human rights, good governance, and the rule of law, often at great 
        personal risk;
Whereas leading democrats and reformers recently created the Alliance for Reform 
        and Democracy in Asia (ARDA) during a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, as a 
        broad-based, nonviolent movement to encourage and accelerate the march 
        of democracy in the region;
Whereas the members of ARDA have rejected as false any definition of so-called 
        ``Asian values'' that does not include respect for human rights, 
        democracy, freedom, and good governance;
Whereas the members of the ARDA have pledged in a declaration of unity to 
        promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Asia and to 
        support one another in times of political crisis;
Whereas the members of ARDA have repeatedly met (most recently in Mongolia and 
        Taiwan) to reaffirm their collective commitment to democracy and human 
        rights in Asia; and
Whereas the Congress has recognized that the establishment of democratic 
        governments in Asia is vital to United States national security 
        interests: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes and commends the members of the Alliance for 
        Reform and Democracy in Asia (ARDA) for joining forces in their 
        common struggle for freedom and the rule of law;
            (2) calls upon Asian governments to heed ARDA's calls for 
        political and legal reforms and to engage ARDA members in 
        dialog; and
            (3) calls for an immediate end to human rights violations 
        committed against Asian democracy activists and reformers.
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