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)

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NEWS -- Mar. 07, 2004

Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." Practiced in over 50 countries world-wide, Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture. With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong in China, China's then-Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report). Since that time, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it. The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 901 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. In October 2001, however, Government officials inside China reported that the actual death toll was well over 1,600. Expert sources now estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER -- Gail Rachlin 917-757-9780, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, or Christina Chai 917-386-5068. Email: contact@faluninfo.net, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/