[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 89 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H3881]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CALLING FOR ZHU YUFU RELEASE ON TIANANMEN SQUARE ANNIVERSARY
(Mr. HULTGREN asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, on June 4, 1989, pro-democracy
demonstrators were killed by Chinese troops while peacefully advocating
for government accountability and political and economic reforms.
In the aftermath, the Chinese Government arrested large numbers of
protesters and their supporters, prohibited other demonstrations,
expelled foreign journalists, and have prohibited discussion or
remembrance of these events ever since.
Today is a solemn reminder of the state of human rights in China 26
years after Tiananmen Square.
Since 2011, Zhu Yufu, a Chinese democracy advocate, Christian
dissident, and poet has languished in prison simply for expressing his
democratic beliefs. Today, I urge his immediate and unconditional
release.
As part of the Defending Freedoms Project, my colleagues and I will
continue to shine a light on Zhu Yufu's case and that of other
prisoners of conscience. I applaud Zhu Yufu and his fellow champions of
freedom for their courage. We thank them for their courage. They are
not alone.
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