U.S. House of Reps. Passes Resolution Urging Censure of China for Human Rights Abuses

WASHINGTON, DC (FDI) – The House of Representatives passed resolution H. Res. 530 (full text) urging the international community to rebuke the People’s Republic of China for a litany of human rights abuses. Yesterday’s vote on the resolution was 402-2.

H. Res. 530 urges the Bush Administration to sponsor and aggressively pursue a resolution condemning China for its human rights abuses at the annual meeting of the United Nation’s Commission on Human Rights, which will meet later this month in Geneva.

“According to the Department of State, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and international human rights organizations, the Government of the People’s Republic of China continues to commit well-documented human rights abuses against the Chinese people,” states H. Res. 530.

Resolution Highlights Abuse of Falun Gong and the PRC’s Shady Activities in the U.S.

H. Res. 530 identified the persecution of Falun Gong as being “particularly harsh.”

“Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China launched a brutal campaign to eradicate Falun Gong from their country […] since this time large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested, subjected to harsh reeducation efforts, and some have even been tortured to death,” the resolution reads.

H. Res. 530 also highlights concerns regarding efforts by Chinese officials to stamp out Falun Gong in the United States. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating the possibility of links between attacks against Falun Gong practitioners in the United States and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.”

U.S. House Calls for Action

Among the actions recommended by H. Res. 530 is the introduction of a resolution at the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland “calling upon the People’s Republic of China to end its human rights violations in China and meet internationally recognized standards for human rights.”

In a statement posted on his website, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith – H. Res. 530’s author – said “We see Falun Gong practitioners who are routinely rounded up and beaten and abused; and hundreds have been tortured to death while held in captivity… already, the PRC is trying to generate favorable public opinion by claiming it will protect human rights and private property rights; but as we have learned over the years, China cannot be trusted to keep its word on human rights. We have a moral duty and obligation to aggressively raise this issue on behalf of the numerous victims who cannot speak for themselves.” (full statement)