[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 164 (Thursday, November 18, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H12885-H12887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2015
 SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT CHINESE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP PERSECUTION OF 
                        FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 218) expressing the sense of 
the Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China 
should stop its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, and ask for 
its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from New York?
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from New York to explain the bill.
  Mr. GILMAN. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 218, calling on 
the People's Republic of China to stop persecuting the Falun Gong 
practitioners which was introduced by the distinguished gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
International Operations and Human Rights. During the past few weeks, 
the leaders of the People's Republic of China have arrested, jailed, 
beaten and tortured thousands of peaceful followers of Falun Gong, a 
religious synthesis of traditional Chinese physical exercises and 
Buddhist and Taoist teachings. Adherents to this meditation movement 
have done nothing more than express their humble belief that people 
should be kind to one another and work on themselves to change their 
own lives. They are nonviolent and have not adopted any so-called 
foreign beliefs. They do not promote nor do they use drugs. They are 
not a cult. They only want to meditate, take their lives into their own 
hands and attempt to live productive and peaceful lives.
  What in the world can be wrong with that? What sort of government 
finds that so threatening that it would have these good citizens 
arrested, tortured, dismissed from their job? What sort of government 
sends peaceful religious practitioners to labor camps and creates such 
circumstances whereby some of them felt that they had to take their own 
lives?
  The answer to those questions is that the government of the People's 
Republic of China is doing just that. The same government that earlier 
this week threatened the State of Israel if its leaders had the 
audacity to meet with its holiness, the Dalai Lama. It is the same 
government that the Clinton administration so desperately wanted to be 
accepted as a member of the WTO. And it is the very same government 
that the State Department continues to promote military exchanges with.
  Mr. Speaker, the government of China is led by those who do not share 
our beliefs in what is right and what is wrong. They have an agenda 
that is not moral. They have a purpose that is not peaceful. By their 
repression of Falun Gong, they demonstrate that they will use any means 
and methods to promote their effort to stay in power.
  The repression of religion in China is a serious threat to all that 
civilized people hold dear. If our government and other democracies 
around the world continue business as usual with such a regime, we will 
have only ourselves to blame for the ultimate consequences.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 218.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to 
object, I rise in strong support of this resolution which was 
introduced by my colleague on the Committee on International Relations 
and chairman of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human 
Rights the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and congratulate him 
on his good work.
  Most Americans, and, for that matter, most Members of Congress 
probably had not heard of Falun Gong until last summer when the Chinese 
dictatorship banned and started throwing thousands of people in jail 
for practicing it. It is hardly surprising people that Chinese is 
systematically arresting, torturing and even killing its own citizens 
for wanting to practice their faith, which is what Falun Gong is. This 
is the same gang of dictators, after all, that persecutes Christians, 
Muslims and Buddhists and winks at forced abortions.
  But even though this latest purge is completely in character, it is a 
perfect

[[Page H12886]]

illustration why we need to radically alter our relations with that 
dictatorship. Because when Beijing decided to make practicing Falun 
Gong a capital offense, which is exactly what the rubber-stamp Chinese 
congress did before the visit to Beijing of our trade representative 
Charlene Barshefsky, we are seeing that life in the People's Republic 
is not much different from 10 years ago when the People's Liberation 
Army turned its tanks and machine guns on the people in Tiananmen 
Square who wanted nothing less than the very same political liberty 
that lets us stand here tonight and debate this resolution.
  As I speak there are thousands of men and women in China who are 
being beaten and killed for choosing to believe in ideals we take for 
granted in this country, whether it is our faith in God, our right to 
vote or simply wanting to belong to Falun Gong. As we consider, Mr. 
Speaker, permanent NTR next year to China, let us remember what the 
Communist Chinese are doing to the Falun Gong.
  Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object. I yield to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago I introduced H. Con. Res. 218 which already 
has more than 70 bipartisan cosponsors, including the chairman of the 
full committee the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman); the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi); the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Wolf); the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos); the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Brown); the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) and 
many others, condemning the crackdown of the Falun Gong spiritual 
movement by the government of the People's Republic of China. As we all 
know by now, the Chinese dictatorship has long been brutal in its 
suppression of religious practice that is not state-controlled. Tibetan 
Buddhists, Catholics loyal to the Pope, Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang 
Province and Protestant House Church members have all borne the brunt 
of a systematic and brutal persecution by the Chinese government which 
often includes torture. In recent months, the Chinese government has 
embarked on a new campaign, an attempt, in its own words, to smash 
Falun Gong, a peaceful and nonviolent form of spiritual practice.
  A meditative spirituality that blends elements of Buddhism and 
Taoism, Falun Gong has millions of adherents in China and elsewhere. 
Since the group was banned in July of this year, thousands of ordinary 
citizens from all over China have been jailed for refusing to give up 
their practice. There have been many credible reports of torture and 
inhumane treatment of detained practitioners, including a report that a 
42-year-old woman was tortured to death by Chinese thugs. Numerous 
practitioners, Mr. Speaker, have been sentenced to labor camps without 
trial and thousands have lost their jobs or have been expelled from 
schools.
  The Chinese government has also enacted laws criminalizing Falun 
Gong. This past Friday after a single, 7-hour closed hearing, China 
handed down the first sentences against Falun Gong practitioners. Three 
men and one woman received sentences ranging from 2 to 12 years for 
``using an evil cult to obstruct the law.'' It is feared that those 
were only the first of what will become many trials aimed at stamping 
out the practice of Falun Gong. According to press reports, China will 
begin a new series of approximately 300 trials starting on Sunday with 
the trial of a 63-year-old retired schoolteacher kicking that off. This 
is an absolute outrage. Thankfully the House, I hope, will soon go on 
record condemning it.
  The fact that this rash of trials follows so closely on the heels of 
the Beijing visit of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan demonstrates the 
failure of his visit to advance the cause of human rights in China. I 
could not believe my eyes, Mr. Speaker, reading yesterday's press 
reports of the Secretary-General's remarks on Tuesday. Mr. Annan stated 
that the Chinese foreign minister had given him ``a better 
understanding of some of the issues involved'' in the Falun Gong 
crackdown. He also parroted the Chinese official line, stating that, 
and I quote, ``In dealing with this issue, the fundamental rights of 
citizens will be respected, and some of the actions they are taking are 
for the protection of individuals.''
  Certainly Mr. Annan cannot be ignorant of the credible reports to the 
contrary that have been pouring out of China in recent weeks. I fear 
that the Secretary-General's failure to empathize with and to speak out 
on behalf of these oppressed people and his willingness to give the 
Chinese oppressors the benefit of an unjustified doubt has only 
emboldened them in their efforts to crush Falun Gong.
  The suppression of Falun Gong in China has been brutal, it has been 
systematic, and it continues as we meet here tonight. Two days ago, 
during the Secretary-General's visit, the authorities arrested 20 more 
people who were practitioners of Falun Gong who were meditating in 
Tiananmen Square. The police used force against the group, reportedly 
kicking and jumping on the peaceful protesters before removing them 
from the square in a van.
  In response to this further suppression of fundamental human rights 
by the Beijing dictatorship, H. Con. Res. 218 expresses the sense of 
the Congress that the government of the PRC should stop persecuting 
Falun Gong practitioners and other religious believers and expresses 
our belief that the U.S. Government should use every appropriate forum 
to urge the PRC to release all detained Falun Gong practitioners; allow 
those practitioners to pursue their beliefs in accordance with the 
Chinese constitution; and to abide by the International Covenant on 
Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights.
  Given this Chamber's commitment to freedom of conscience and the 
undisguised severity of the persecution against Falun Gong, I strongly 
urge support of this resolution.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to 
the gentleman from Nebraska.
  Mr. BEREUTER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I wanted to report to my colleagues that this resolution 
introduced by the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) 
with many other cosponsors was reported to the Subcommittee on Asia and 
the Pacific only lately because it was introduced on November 2. We 
took a look at it, made very slight rhetorical changes, cleared it with 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) on the minority side who were also 
cosponsors along with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and 
other distinguished members of the Congress, including some on our 
committee, the Committee on International Relations, and we thought it 
was entirely appropriate that it was reported to the floor.
  The gentleman from New Jersey has highlighted some of the concerns 
that obviously we have with the way the Falun Gong is being treated in 
China. It only hurts their credibility. I think it speaks unfortunately 
to their legitimacy. I would hope that this is a message that they will 
take to heart. I urge support of the resolution.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of 
objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 218

       Whereas Falun Gong is a peaceful and nonviolent form of 
     religious belief and practice with millions of adherents in 
     China and elsewhere;
       Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China 
     has forbidden Falun Gong practitioners to practice their 
     faith;
       Whereas this prohibition violates China's own Constitution 
     as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
     Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
       Whereas thousands of ordinary citizens from all over China 
     have been jailed for refusing to give up their practice of 
     Falun Gong and for appealing to the government for protection 
     of their constitutional rights;
       Whereas there are many credible reports of torture and 
     other cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment of detained 
     Falun Gong practitioners, including a report that a 42-year-
     old woman, Zhao Jinhua, was tortured to death by Chinese 
     government officials;
       Whereas the People's Republic of China has enacted new 
     criminal legislation that the

[[Page H12887]]

     government's official newspaper hailed as a ``powerful new 
     weapon to smash evil cultist organizations, especially Falun 
     Gong'';
       Whereas some of the detained Falun Gong members have been 
     charged with political offenses, such as violations of 
     China's vague ``official state secrets'' law, and under the 
     new legislation Falun Gong practitioners will be chargeable 
     with such offenses as murder, fraud, and endangering national 
     security;
       Whereas other Falun Gong members have been sentenced to 
     labor camps, apparently under administrative procedures 
     allowing such sentences without trial;
       Whereas Chinese authorities in recent months have 
     reportedly confiscated, burned, or otherwise destroyed 
     millions of Falun Gong books and tapes;
       Whereas thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China have 
     lost their jobs and students have been expelled from schools 
     for refusing to give up their beliefs; and
       Whereas the brutal crackdown by the Chinese Government on 
     Falun Gong is in direct violation of the fundamental human 
     rights to freedom of religious belief and practice, 
     expression, and assembly: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the Government of the People's Republic of China should 
     stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners and other religious 
     believers;
       (2) the Government of the United States should use every 
     appropriate public and private forum, including but not 
     limited to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, to 
     urge the Government of the People's Republic of China--
       (A) to release from detention all Falun Gong practitioners 
     and put an immediate end to the practices of torture and 
     other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment against them and 
     other prisoners of conscience;
       (B) to allow Falun Gong practitioners to pursue their 
     religious beliefs in accordance with article 36 of the 
     Constitution of the People's Republic of China; and
       (C) to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and 
     Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human 
     Rights.

     Amendment In the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Gilman

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
     Gilman:
       Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:
       That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the Government of the People's Republic of China should 
     stop persecuting Falun Gong practioners; and
       (2) the Government of the United States should use every 
     appropriate public and private forum, including but not 
     limited to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, to 
     urge the Government of the People's Republic of China--
       (A) to release from detention all Falun Gong practitioners 
     and put an immediate end to the practices of torture and 
     other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment against them and 
     other prisoners of conscience;
       (B) to allow Falun Gong practitioners to pursue their 
     personal beliefs in accordance with article 36 of the 
     Constitution of the People's Republic of China; and
       (C) to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and 
     Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human 
     Rights.

  Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read 
and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman).
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the concurrent 
resolution, as amended.
  The concurrent resolution, as amended, was agreed to.


            Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Gilman

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Gilman:
       Insert a complete new preamble as follows:
       Whereas Falun Gong is a peaceful and nonviolent form of 
     personal belief and practice with millions of adherents in 
     China and elsewhere;
       Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China 
     has forbidden Falun Gong practitioners to practice their 
     beliefs;
       Whereas this prohibition violates China's own Constitution 
     as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
     Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
       Whereas thousands of ordinary citizens from all over China 
     have been jailed for refusing to give up their practice of 
     Falun Gong and for appealing to the government for protection 
     of their constitutional rights;
       Whereas there are many credible reports of torture and 
     other cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment of detained 
     Falun Gong practitioners;
       Whereas the People's Republic of China has enacted new 
     criminal legislation that the government's official newspaper 
     hailed as a ``powerful new weapon to smash evil cultist 
     organizations, especially Falun Gong'';
       Whereas some of the detained Falun Gong members have been 
     charged with political offenses, such as violations of 
     China's vague ``official state secrets'' law, and under the 
     new legislation Falun Gong practitioners will be chargeable 
     with such offenses as murder, fraud, and endangering national 
     security;
       Whereas other Falun Gong members have been sentenced to 
     labor camps, apparently under administrative procedures 
     allowing such sentences without trial;
       Whereas Chinese authorities in recent months have 
     reportedly confiscated, burned, or otherwise destroyed 
     millions of Falun Gong books and tapes;
       Whereas thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China have 
     lost their jobs and students have been expelled from schools 
     for refusing to give up their beliefs; and
       Whereas the brutal crackdown by the Chinese Government on 
     Falun Gong is in direct violation of the fundamental human 
     rights to freedom of personal belief and practice, 
     expression, and assembly:

  Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment to the preamble be considered as read and printed in 
the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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