[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7790-S7791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 633--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE 
 DETERIORATION OF RESPECT FOR PRIVACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PEOPLE'S 
       REPUBLIC OF CHINA BEFORE THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING

  Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. Bunning) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 633

       Whereas, on July 13, 2001, the International Olympic 
     Committee announced the awarding of the 2008 Olympic Games to 
     Beijing, People's Republic of China;
       Whereas, prior to that announcement, the bidding documents 
     submitted by the Government of the People's Republic of China 
     to the International Olympic Committee stated, ``We are 
     confident that the Games coming to China not only promotes 
     our economy, but also enhances . . . human rights.'';
       Whereas those documents also stated, ``There will be no 
     restrictions on journalists in reporting on the Olympic 
     Games. . . . There will be no restriction concerning the use 
     of media material produced in China and intended principally 
     for broadcast outside.'';
       Whereas Beijing's Action Plan for the Olympics states, ``In 
     the preparation for the Games, we will be open in every 
     aspect to the rest of the country and the whole world.'';
       Whereas, on April 23, 2002, after the Olympic Games had 
     been awarded to Beijing, the President of the International 
     Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, said, ``We are convinced 
     that the Olympic Games will improve the human rights record 
     [in China].'';
       Whereas, on March 13, 2008, the United States Department of 
     State released the annual Country Reports on Human Rights 
     Practices;
       Whereas the report on the People's Republic of China states 
     that in 2007 the Government of the People's Republic of China 
     ``tightened restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, 
     particularly in anticipation of and during sensitive events, 
     including increased efforts to control and censor the 
     Internet'';
       Whereas that report also states that in 2007 authorities of 
     the People's Republic of China ``monitored telephone 
     conversations, facsimile transmissions, e-mail, text 
     messaging, and Internet communications'';
       Whereas, on July 29, 2008, Amnesty International released a 
     report entitled ``People's Republic of China: The Olympics 
     Countdown--Broken Promises'', which finds, regarding the 
     promises of the Government of the People's Republic of China 
     to the International Olympic Committee in 2001, ``[T]here has 
     been no progress towards fulfilling these promises, only 
     continued deterioration. . . . In fact, the crackdown on 
     human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers has 
     intensified because Beijing is hosting the Olympics.'';
       Whereas, that report also states, ``Chinese journalists 
     continue to operate in a climate of official censorship and 
     control, with many still languishing in jail for reporting on 
     issues deemed politically sensitive. Internet controls have 
     been increasingly tightened as the Olympics approach with 
     control, regulation and censorship extending to various 
     categories of internet users, including Internet Service 
     Providers, bloggers and website owners. Numerous websites 
     have been closed down for providing information deemed 
     sensitive by the authorities. Internet users who post such 
     information risk detention, prosecution and imprisonment.'';
       Whereas, in April 2008, the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China issued an order requiring hotels to allow 
     the Public Security Bureau to install hardware devices and 
     new software programs on the hotel networks that are designed 
     to send sensitive information about users, including foreign 
     visitors and journalists, to the Public Security Bureau;
       Whereas, on July 29, 2008, Agence France-Presse reported 
     that ``China will censor the Internet used by foreign media 
     during the Olympics . . . reversing a pledge to offer 
     complete media freedom at the games'', citing confirmation by 
     Sun Weide, spokesman for the Beijing Olympic Organizing 
     Committee;
       Whereas the Olympic Charter states that the mission of the 
     International Olympic Committee is ``to promote a positive 
     legacy from the Olympic Games to the host cities and host 
     countries'';
       Whereas, on December 25, 2007, the Vice-President of the 
     International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, stated, ``The 
     Games can act as a catalyst and contribute to the opening of 
     a society.''; and
       Whereas, on March 23, 2008, the President of the 
     International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, stated that 
     the Olympic Games are a ``force for good'': Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) calls upon the Government of the People's Republic of 
     China--
       (A) to rescind the order requiring hotels to allow the 
     Public Security Bureau to install hardware and software on 
     the hotel networks; and

[[Page S7791]]

       (B) to refrain from targeting, on the basis of information 
     collected from Internet monitoring, any individual who visits 
     websites related to politics or human rights or who expresses 
     opinions related to politics or human rights in electronic 
     communication;
       (2) expresses grave concern regarding the deterioration of 
     respect for human rights in the People's Republic of China 
     leading up to the Beijing Olympics;
       (3) notes that the behavior of the Government of the 
     People's Republic of China violates several international 
     conventions to which the country is a signatory, violates the 
     Government's commitments to the International Olympic 
     Committee, and is contrary to longstanding Olympic tradition 
     and spirit; and
       (4) remains concerned for the safety and privacy of 
     international visitors and journalists traveling to the 
     People's Republic of China for the Beijing Olympics, in 
     particular visitors and journalists involved in documenting 
     human rights abuses and promoting human rights improvements.

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