[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 38 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 38

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2001

 Mr. McConnell (for himself, Mr. Helms, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Leahy) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign 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 their citizens basic freedoms of 
        belief, speech, and association, and engage in intimidation and other 
        human rights abuses designed to ensure that political opposition to 
        those governments 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 created the Alliance for Reform and 
        Democracy in Asia (referred to in this Resolution as ARDA) in Bangkok, 
        Thailand, on October 8, 2000, as a broad-based, nonviolent movement to 
        encourage and accelerate the march of democracy in Asia;
Whereas the members of the ARDA have rejected as false any definition of ``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;
Whereas the members of the ARDA support each other through words and deeds in 
        times of political crisis;
Whereas the members of the ARDA have frequently met to reaffirm their collective 
        commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, most 
        recently in Taiwan and Mongolia; and
Whereas Congress recognizes that the establishment of democratic governments in 
        Asia is vital to the United States national security interests: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes and commends the members of the Alliance for 
        Reform and Democracy in Asia for joining forces in a common 
        struggle for freedom and the rule of law;
            (2) calls upon governments in Asia to heed the calls by the 
        ARDA for political and legal reforms, and to engage members of 
        the ARDA in dialog; and
            (3) calls for an immediate end to human rights violations 
        committed against Asian democracy activists and reformers.
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