[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 147 (Wednesday, October 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1527-E1528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF H. RES. 327, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF 
   REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD VOTE AGAINST CHINA 
 REGAINING UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC) MEMBERSHIP AND 
  ENCOURAGE OTHER MEMBERS TO VOTE AGAINST ITS ELECTION, AND ENCOURAGE 
ANOTHER MEMBER TO STAND FOR ELECTION AS AN ALTERNATE CANDIDATE FROM THE 
                          ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. KERRY L. BENTIVOLIO

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2013

  Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a few remarks regarding 
ongoing human rights and religious freedom abuses in China, and my 
related resolution, House Resolution 327.
  China's suppression of its people's rights is an atrocious affair. 
With the recent change in leadership, some had held hope that there 
would be progress, but it seems that the new premier, Xi Jinping, has 
continued to take things in the other direction--suppression of 
religious and ethnic minorities is getting worse, the right to free 
speech is being eroded, and more people are being subjected to harsh 
treatment by their government.
  China's claim that economic modernization would lead to increased 
protection of civil liberties has not proven true. Economic advances 
seem to come at the cost of those who are most vulnerable. Rather than 
securing liberty for its people, China has continued to vastly fund 
programs that serve to monitor and harass civilians.
  There are many people who have been fighting to obtain for China the 
level of freedom we enjoy in the United States and other countries 
around the world. These are people who I believe many Americans 
identify with, because we can empathize with those who are beaten down 
in noble, selfless struggles for dignity and liberty.
  Wang Bingzhang struggled to find a path towards freedom in China--a 
burden that I'm sure was overwhelming at times. His advocacy and his 
message ultimately cost him what he was fighting for--freedom. Dr. Wang 
was abducted in 2002, along with his colleagues, in Vietnam and taken 
back to China, where he faced a secret trial. In a one day trial, in 
which no evidence or witnesses were presented, Dr. Wang was sentenced 
to life imprisonment in solitary confinement on charges of espionage 
and terrorism. His physical and mental health has deteriorated to the 
point where continued imprisonment is inhumane. This case has begun to 
attract more international recognition.
  Li Huanjun, whom I had the pleasure of meeting, was arrested on July 
12, 2013, on ``suspicion of gathering a crowd to disturb social 
order.'' Ms. Li is a housing rights activist who advocates against the 
forced evictions that are occurring in China. She lost her home in just 
this manner as community leaders decided to sell her home to developers 
without consulting her. Her arrest is worrying, because many of the 
people who are arrested for protesting this kind of state action are 
subject to torture, beatings, and harsh sentences for alleged crimes. 
She is a mother whose fate is yet to be seen.
  Though the previous two activists are not mentioned in the 
legislation, they are both activists for whom I have advocated. The 
specific cases and people mentioned in the legislation are equally 
important. The persecution of individuals and entire groups of people 
in China is staggering, and much of this abuse is covered in H. Res. 
327.
  Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region are facing increased 
pressure and persecution from Beijing. Hundreds of people have also 
been arrested in Xinjiang for spreading ``online rumors,'' and for 
expressing dissatisfaction with the Chinese government. Chinese 
authorities claim that they grant wide-ranging freedoms to people in 
this region, but religious persecution, suppression of dissent, and 
monitoring and harassment prove otherwise.
  Mongolians continue to face harsh government oppression, as well. An 
example is Mr. Hada, who served a 15 year prison sentence for 
``subversion,'' who continues to face detention after his release from 
prison, and whose wife and son have recently ``disappeared''. 
Dissidents are not the only ones who face persecution--their families 
are often targeted by authorities, as well. Inner Mongolia continues to 
struggle to keep a grasp on their culture and language while Beijing 
attempts to erode it. As a result of Chinese expansion into Inner 
Mongolia, the land and ecosystem is deteriorating--the Mongolian 
culture and way of life is in danger of deteriorating with it.
  The oppression of Tibetans has caused concern around the world. In 
acts of desperation, many Tibetan monks have self-immolated. They want 
greater religious freedom, and the return from exile of Tibetan 
spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. But, Beijing continues to maintain 
strict control over the Tibetan Autonomous Region, even going as far as 
maintaining police presence in monasteries. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who 
was sentenced to death in 2002, along with his assistant who was almost 
immediately executed, but had his sentence commuted to life 
imprisonment after human rights groups and experts claimed he did not 
receive a fair trial and that he faced harsh treatment in detention.
  Falun Gong practitioners have also faced serious persecution from 
Chinese authorities. China's efforts to eradicate this religion can be 
particularly severe. Long imprisonment, torture, and inhumane treatment 
of practitioners can often lead to death. The adherence to a belief 
system in China, like Falun Gong, is often a dangerous attribute. Many 
Falun Gong practitioners are often subject to the China's ``Reeducation 
Through Labor'' program, black prisons, and arbitrary detention. 
Hundreds of thousands of people are sentenced to serve time in these 
``Reeducation Through Labor'' prisons.
  The list of human rights abuses, violations, and religious and ethnic 
persecution is almost innumerable. During China's previous membership 
on the Council, they greatly expanded their ``Weiwen'' program, used to 
monitor and harass civilians. This program is currently being funded at 
higher levels than their national defense budget. Many of the most 
famous cases of violations occurred while China sat as a member on the 
Council. Liu Xiaobo

[[Page E1528]]

was arrested in 2009 on charges of ``inciting subversion of state 
power,'' and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was awarded the 
Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, making him the only Nobel Peace Prize winner 
in prison. His wife, Liu Xia, continues to face harassment is currently 
under house arrest.
  For these reasons, the United States government and our 
representative in the United Nations should vote against China 
regaining membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council. This 
Council was designed to help protect people from the kinds of 
persecution that they suffer at the hands of the Chinese government. 
The effort to keep China off of the Council has a strong coalition, 
including Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongols, Han Chinese, Christians, Muslims, 
and Falun Gong, along with many human rights lawyers and advocates.
  I would urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join in 
this effort by cosponsoring H. Res. 327 to keep China off of the United 
Nations Human Rights Council and encourage another suitably qualified 
member from the Asia-Pacific region to stand for election as an 
alternate candidate.

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