Senator Tim Hutchinson's Letter to A Falun Gong Practitioner

Tim Hutchinson
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
July 29, 2001

Dear Mr. xx,

Thank you for sharing your support for legislation that would address human rights abuse in China. I am glad that you contacted me.

As you know, Congresswoman Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) recently introduced a resolution in the House, H. Con. Res. 188, expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should cease its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. This legislation is currently in the House Committee on International Relations and you can be sure that it will have my support should it be introduced in the Senate.

Like you, I believe that the Chinese government has stepped far away from international norms and has violated the promises it made to protect basic human rights when it signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in October 1998. It is imperative that we continue to speak out for those suffering for their beliefs.

To remain silent amidst the abuses inflicted upon the Chinese people by the Communist government is to approve of these actions. Under the policy of "constructive engagement," trade ties to China have been emphasized at the expense of human rights, and possibly national security. This conciliatory approach has not helped victims of forced abortions, coerced sterilization, slave labor, organ harvesting, or religious persecution. I believe that engagement must be productive, diplomatic yet forceful, and compromise neither human rights nor national security.

I do not expect that the U.S. government will single-handedly change China, nor do I expect freedom to come to China overnight. However, the U.S. must use its influence to promote the conditions under which change can occur. Please know that I will continue my efforts to bring awareness to the persecution in China in hopes that the Chinese people will one day experience freedom.

Again, thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please do not hesitate if I may be of assistance in the future.

With kind regards,

Sincerely,

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Tim Hutchinson

United States Senator