China Violates Human Rights, Says US Resolution

WASHINGTON—The speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, on Wednesday strongly condemned the Chinese government for its continued support to the despotic Burmese military regime and its suppression of peaceful protestors in Tibet and human rights violation of its own people in China.

Pelosi, who was speaking in support of a resolution approved on Wednesday, said the actions of the Chinese government run counter to US interest of promoting peace, stability and morality in the world.

Chinese security personnel with their trained sniffing dogs prepare to check the National Stadium, better know as the Bird's Nest in Beijing. The US ramped up pressure on China to live up to Olympic ideals by ending human rights abuses, as President George W Bush promised "nothing to fear" from Internet freedom. (Photo: AFP)

"The violations of human rights do not end on China's borders,” she said. “On the international front, the Chinese government continues to support the genocidal regime in Sudan and the military junta in Burma."

Pelosi said human rights defenders and activists have been arrested and imprisoned in China at an alarming rate in recent months.

"The dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has gone nowhere. Thousands of peaceful Tibetans still languish in prisons in the aftermath of the protests that began in March," she said.

"Chinese authorities have stepped up so-called 'patriotic education' campaigns that require Tibetan Buddhists, regardless of their true thoughts, to publicly denounce the Dalai Lama."

In exchange for the privilege of hosting the Olympic games, the Chinese government made commitments on freedom of the press, human rights and the environment, Pelosi said, but the commitments have been violated repeatedly and blatantly.

Howard L Berman, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that despite commitments by Beijing to improve human and political rights in the run-up to the Olympics, the situation has not improved—and, in some cases, has become far worse.

"China's international behavior with respect to despicable regimes in Sudan and Burma has improved marginally at best,” Berman said. “Beijing remains these countries' strongest supporter."

The house resolution urged China to end human rights abuses, honor its commitments for freedom of the press and freedom of movement ahead of the Olympics and permit peaceful political activities during the games. It also urged Beijing to enter into direct discussions with the Dalai Lama over the future of Tibet and end its political and economic support of the regimes in Sudan and Burma.

Meanwhile Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao responds that the bill has "fully exposed their evil motives to politicize the Olympics and interrupt and sabotage the Beijing Olympics."

"We urge the American side to stop the disgusting actions of this small group of anti-Chinese lawmakers," Liu was quoted as saying on the ministry's Web site. "This action itself is blasphemous to the spirit of the Olympics, and is against the will of the people all over the world, including the American people."