[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 63 (Friday, May 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ARBITRARY DETENTION OF DR. WANG 
                               BINGZHANG

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2004

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Con. Res. 326 which calls for the release of Dr. Wang Bingzhang 
by the Chinese government. I would like to thank my distinguished 
colleague from California, Representative Grace Napolitano for bringing 
this important matter to the floor. I stand in agreement with this 
resolution in which it states that the release of Dr. Wang should a 
priority of United States foreign policy in relation to China.
  Dr. Wang is a known pro-democracy advocate, who has supported only 
peaceful means to bring about change. The idea that the Chinese 
government has arrested him in connection with their new anti-terrorism 
laws is ludicrous. There is no credible proof that Dr. Wang is a 
terrorist or has planned any terrorist activities. His only crime has 
been to be a vocal critic of a government he believed to be restrictive 
of personal freedoms. I cannot think of a greater irony than the fact 
that Dr. Wang's arrest and detention is clear proof of the charges he 
leveled against the Chinese government. Our nation would never allow a 
man to be detained simply for holding an opposing view. While we cannot 
tell other independent nations how to govern themselves, and while 
nations retain the right to make arrests and protect their homeland, we 
still have a moral imperative to speak out when nations take egregious 
actions against innocent individuals. It is clear that Dr. Wang is 
innocent and he is being made to suffer simply because of his political 
opinions. I state the fact again, that no credible evidence has been 
presented to show that Dr. Wang took part in any violent or terroristic 
actions against the Chinese government. His sentence of life in prison 
is undoubtedly harsh and unjustified. His currently deteriorating 
health condition means that this life sentence is instead a death 
sentence. Again, I stress that the Chinese government has the right to 
run its justice system as it sees fit, but this is truly an egregious 
case of miscarried justice.
  Dr. Wang is a permanent resident of the United States and has lived 
here with his family for many years. I can only imagine the stress and 
anguish his family is feeling now, not knowing the fate of their loved 
one. I congratulate again the sponsors of this concurrent resolution 
for bringing this case to light. We must fight cases of miscarried 
justice abroad the same way we would if they occurred here in the 
United States. Otherwise we will set a bad precedent for the proper use 
of the judicial system and the means that governments have to punish 
true criminals.

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