[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S4379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WEI JINGSHENG

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I join today with my colleagues in 
solidarity with a courageous Chinese advocate of human rights, Wei 
Jingsheng.
  Each year, the family and friends of Robert F. Kennedy, and those who 
honor his legacy present a human rights award in my brothers name. In 
1994, Wei Jingsheng won that award.
  Except for a brief period in late 1993 and early 1994, Wei has been 
imprisoned since 1979 because he dared to call for democracy and 
freedom of expression in his country.
  Wei never feared to tell the story of the abysmal conditions imposed 
on those who dare to speak for human rights, democracy, and freedom of 
expression in China.
  He was an electrician at the Beijing Zoo in 1979, when he earned 
international praise during the Democracy Wall movement for his 
courageous essays criticizing the Chinese leadership and calling for 
democratic reforms.
  In his 1978 journal, ``Explorations,'' he publicly exposed the 
torture of political prisoners. He later wrote one of the most famous 
essays of the democracy movement, arguing eloquently and powerfully 
that democracy and free speech were preconditions for China's economic 
and social growth. In another essay, he challenged China's leader at 
the time, Deng Xiaoping, saying: ``We cannot help asking Deng what his 
idea of democracy is. If the people have no right to express freely 
their opinions or to enjoy freedom of speech and criticism, then how 
can one talk of democracy? * * * Only a genuine general election can 
create a government and leaders ready to serve the interests of the 
electorate.''
  For his refusal to remain quiet, he was arrested in 1979, tried 
secretly, and sentenced to 15 years in prison--most of which he spent 
in solitary confinement. He was repeatedly tortured.
  In September 1993, Wei was released as part of China's public 
relations attempt to win the opportunity to host the Olympic Games in 
the year 2000. Upon leaving prison, Wei immediately resumed his leading 
role in the democracy movement.
  On April 1, 1994, after Wei met with Assistant Secretary of State for 
Human Rights, John Shattuck, he was arrested again and held 
incommunicado for 20 months. He was formally charged in November 1995 
and, after a 1 day trial, was convicted of ``engaging in activities in 
an attempt to overthrow the Chinese Government.''
  Wei is now in a prison cell serving a 14-year sentence. His health is 
poor, his conditions are deplorable, and he is repeatedly tortured.
  Today we celebrate the latest publication of his writings, ``The 
Courage to Stand Alone.'' Wei has often stood alone against the Chinese 
Government. But he does not stand alone, and he will not stand alone in 
the wider world. He will never stand alone, as long as there are those 
who care about human rights and who are willing to speak out on his 
behalf. We will go on doing so until Wei is released, all political 
prisoners in China are released, and the basic human rights he so 
bravely fights for are enjoyed by all the people of China.

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