Amnesty International Urges Bush to Stand Up for Human Rights in China

Mr. T. Kumar, the advocacy director for Asia and the Pacific of Amnesty International USA, held a “Morning Newsmaker” News Conference on Friday, September 2, at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Mr. Kumar presented the latest status on human rights in China, and urged President Bush to send a clear message to Chinese President Hu Jintao about major human rights issues in China.

Major Human Rights Issues in China

Mr. Kumar said that “there is no improvement in human rights” in China, and in certain areas, it has deteriorated.

China holds tens of thousands of political prisoners, and more and more people are being arrested. China executes many political prisoners. Dr. William F. Schulz, Amnesty International USA Executive Director, wrote to President Bush that China “executes more people than the rest of the world combined.” China also harvests organs from executed prisoners without their consent.

There is no freedom of belief. All religious groups are persecuted. Falun Gong is singled out and gets the worst treatment.

Many Chinese women are forced into abortions and sterilizations.

There is no freedom of expression. China cracks down on “cyber-dissidents” who use the Internet to disseminate “politically sensitive” information. According to Amnesty’s September 2005 Briefing on European Union (EU) concerns regarding human rights in China, “In the last six months the authorities have added new legal, technological, and political means of monitoring, controlling, and restricting the flow of information and expressions in various media.”

North Korean asylum-seekers are facing intense crackdown in China.

Bush Administration’s Lack of Action

Mr. Kumar pointed out that while serious human rights abuses are happening in China, the Bush administration is doing nothing. He said, “In 1989, the U.S. sanctioned China because of the massacre on Tiananmen. Here, massacres are going on,...thousands are imprisoned. And nothing is happening.”

Mr. Kumar said, “Our challenge to President Bush is that if you are serious about human rights and ready to appoint a human rights envoy to North Korea, why can't you appoint a human rights envoy to China as well?” Nothing is being done for China where fundamental human rights issues have been persisting for numerous years.

According to Mr. Kumar, the lack of action towards China by the U.S. is due to two things: trade with China and focus on terrorist threats.

What Should President Bush Do?

Mr. Kumar said, “The U.S. is the only superpower … So, for China, the only country that they will take very seriously is the U.S… When President Bush speaks, it matters... Chinese will take it very seriously on all the issues the U.S. raises on human rights and other matters.”

Mr. Kumar suggests that President Bush make a public statement during Hu Jintao’s visit about the whereabouts of the young Panchen Lama who was selected by the Dalai Lama in 1995.

“President Bush should use this opportunity to secure a timetable with specific benchmarks for human rights improvements in China in the run-up to the Olympics in Beijing in 2005,” said Mr. Kumar.