From: IFCSS HQ <ifcss@WAM.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Introduction to IFCSS (IFCSS HQ NR-4083)
Reply-To: IFCSS HQ <ifcss@WAM.UMD.EDU>
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 16:06:27 GMT
Comments: To: china-nt@uga.cc.uga.edu

**************************************************************
IFCSS Headquarters News Release No. 4083       January 4, 1993
                 INTRODUCTION TO IFCSS
**************************************************************
Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS)
   733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005
         Tel. (202)347-0017  Fax: (202)347-0018
                Email: ifcss@wam.umd.edu


                 Introduction to IFCSS
                 =====================

Dear IFCSS Members:

     Happy New Year!

     In order to expand the influence of IFCSS, the HQ has
prepared an information brochure about IFCSS to be widely
distributed among the CSS community and the American society.
The brochure contains sections on the founding of IFCSS, its
objectives, organizational structure, achievements and current
agenda.

     In the week before Christmas, the HQ has sent out about
10,000 brochures in an effort to raise more funds for IFCSS
operation. The HQ officers also distributed the brochure during
the Thanksgiving holiday trips to the Northern Pacific and
Southeasten states. So far, the HQ has received about 30
donations from the American public, several of them are in
the range of $100-200.

     The following is the English version of the brochure.
Please make a copy of it and distribute to the new Chinese
students, to your American friends or carry it in local CSS
newsletters.

     The following information will also be stored in the
IFCSS/CCIC Bulletin Board. For information about CCIC, please
send email to  ccic-info@ifcss.org


     Thank you for your cooperation.

===============================================================


                    Founding of IFCSS

     In the early morning of June 4, 1989, the Chinese government
crushed peaceful prodemocracy demonstrators with tanks and machine-
guns. The blood of innocent students and civilians soaked the
streets around Tian An Men Square and painted red TV screens across
the world.

     On July 28, 1989, over eight hundred delegates representing
about 40,000 Chinese students and scholars in the U.S., with tears
in their eyes and sorrow in their hearts, gathered in Chicago to
found the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars
(IFCSS).

                    The Objectives of IFCSS

     IFCSS is the national coordinating organization of Chinese
students and scholars in the United States. Its goals are: to
promote freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law in
China, to represent and protect the rights and interests of
Chinese students and scholars in the U.S., and to assist the
development of education, science, technology and culture in
China.

                    What IFCSS Has Accomplished

     Three years have passed since the establishment of IFCSS. Our
organization has travelled over a path strewn with obstacles and
threats to wage a persistent struggle for promoting democracy in
China. The following are some highlights of what we have done:

     * On October 1, 1989, the National Day of P.R. China, IFCSS
organized "Washington March for Democracy in China." Over 4,000
Chinese students across the U.S., some driving as long as 60 hours,
came to Washington D.C. to participate in the March. The event,
which took place at a time of mass arrest in China, demonstrated
the will and courage of China's younger generation to fight for
democracy and freedom.

     * Since 1990, on every June 4th anniversary, IFCSS sponsored
memorial events honoring those who laid down their lives during the
1989 Democracy Movement. Such events have generated pressure on the
Chinese government and encouraged progressive forces inside China.

     * IFCSS has provided the U.S. government with information on
human rights violations in China and urged the Congress and the
White House to use economic leverage to apply pressure on the
Chinese government. Partly due to our efforts, hundreds of
political prisoners were released and a number of dissidents were
allowed to leave the country.

     * IFCSS has established a variety of connections with
democracy activists in China and channeled a considerable amount of
donations to victims of political persecution.

     * Through newsletters, press releases, seminars, and computer
network, IFCSS has helped Chinese students better understand
democracy and inform the American public of the human rights
situation in China.

     * IFCSS has successfully won President Bush's executive
order of 1990 and the enactment of the 1992 Chinese Student Protect
Act which provided continued protection to Chinese students and
nationals in the United States.


                   Priorities on Current Agenda

     * Continue to monitor human rights situation in China and keep
the international community informed of the latest development;

     * set up a special committee to expand existing relief
projects so that less well-known political dissidents and "June
4th" victims will be reached;

     * use various means to inform the Chinese people of what is
happening in the outside world, particularly the concern and
support of overseas students and the international community;

     * send a delegation back to China to collect information on
human rights abuse and push for positive changes;

     * organize lecture tours by leading Chinese dissidents and
American scholars to educate Chinese students on the brutalities of
the totalitarian rule and the advantages of a democratic
government;

     * establish a research group to study recent social and
economic changes in China and explore their impact upon the
political system.

     * expand circulation of IFCSS Newsletter by setting up a
computer distribution network.


              Manifesto of First Congress of Chinese
                  Students & Scholars in the U.S.
                     (July 30, 1989, Chicago)

We, the delegates of the Chinese students and scholars from all
over the United States, with our belief in democracy, with deep
love for our motherland, and with our historical responsibility of
promoting the democracy movement in China, solemnly declare the
establishment of the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and
Scholars.

We hereby proclaim our unyielding pursuit of democracy, which
include our claims for such basic human rights as life, freedom,
prosperity and pursuit of happiness; our belief that people have
the right to choose the form of their government, to participate in
political processes that affect their lives, and to decide the fate
of their nation. Our cause, for which millions of Chinese with
lofty ideas have devoted their lives since the May 4th Movement in
1919, is based upon conscience and common knowledge accepted
throughout the civilized world. It represents a historical trend of
human society, the progression from barbarism to civilization, from
backwardness to advancement. This trend cannot be held back by any
force.

We hereby express our admiration for the 1989 Democracy Movement in
China. This great movement signifies the new awakening of the
Chinese people. It Challenges the feudalist dictatorship that has
dominated China for over 2,000 years and all that runs counter to
democratic principles. It inspires our best hope for revitalizing
China.

We hereby strongly condemn the crimes committed by Deng, Li, Yang
Regime. Their suppression of the democracy movement and persecution
of advocates of democracy have revealed their fear and weakness as
well as their meanness and brutality. In today's China, hope has
not died and the seed of fire is still alive. The day is not far
off when the people will bring Deng, Li, Yang to trial.

We hereby demonstrate our unity and power. Our purpose is not to
become a special interest group. Rather, we shall make the best use
of our present favorable environment in the U.S., work hard, gather
strength, and expand the basis for promoting the democracy movement
in China. The support that we have received transcends the
boundaries of nations, nationalities, and political differences.
All the Chinese people and democratic forces all over the world are
with us. This is the source of our power.

History is calling upon us. Though the struggle will be long and
hard, we are determined to defeat tyranny and dictatorship by
peaceful, rational, and nonviolent means. May our ideas of
democracy, freedom, equality, and rule of law succeed in China.



                     Organizational Structure
                     (Fourth Term, 1992-1993)


Headquarters
============

Xiao Geng         President                 (Univ. of Arizona)
Baoping He        Vice President            (Virginia Tech)
Qingsong Zhang    Executive Director        (Univ. of Virginia)
Heping Shi        Director of Government Affairs & Public
                           Relations        (Virginia Tech)


Council
=======

Jianxin Tang                   (Brandeis University)
Yi Xu                          (Univ. of Connecticut)
Bing Xu                        (U. of Pennsylvania)
Liyue Mo                       (Univ. of Rochester)
Kai Huang                      (Virginia Tech)
Yuhe Liu                       (Univ. of Maryland,
                                    College Park)
Hongran Fan                    (Univ. of Miami)
Gang Li                        (Emory University)
Chenjian Li                    (Purdue University)
Jinghong Li                    (Univ. of Dayton)
Yenong Qi                      (Oregon State Univ.)
Liqun Dong                     (Univ. of Washington)
Wenyan Li                      (New Mexico Highland Univ.)
Jianjun Qian                   (Univ. of Texas, Dallas)
Songyun Huang                  (Univ. of Arizona)
Tong Shen                      (Foothill College)

Supervisory Committee
=====================

Liu Zhendong                   (Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison)
Lu Chengdong                   (Yale University)
Luo Lishi                      (Los Alamos National Lab)
Pang Yang                      (Arizona State Univ.)
Zhao Yue                       (Univ. of Buffalo)



Dear Friends:

     Ours is a long and arduous journey. The odds against us are
overwhelming. However, we are fortunate to have the American people
behind us in our pursuit of freedom. In this free land, we have
kept alive the voice of democracy which has been subdued in China.
Without your support, IFCSS would, like the independent student
organizations in Beijing, have been destroyed by tyranny and
violence. Therefore, we hereby ask for your continued support.
Should you want to help IFCSS in any way, please contact us at
(202)347-0017; fax: 347-0018.

     IFCSS is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the
state of Maryland under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 and entitled to tax-deductible donations. Its
Emmployer Identification Number is 52-1653928. If you wish to make
a contribution, please make it payable to IFCSS Foundation and send
it to IFCSS, 733 15th St. N.W., Suite 440, Washington D.C. 20005.
The following form is provided for your convenience.
______________________________________________________
IFCSS:
     I am with you in your pursuit of democracy and freedom. As an
expression of my support, I am sending you a contribution of
     $ 5.00____      $ 10.00____      $ 20.00____    $ 50.00____
     $ 100.00____    Other________

Name________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________
Date_________________________________________________


Contact:

IFCSS  733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington D.C. 20005
Tel. (202)347-0017;  Fax (202)347-0017
Email:   ifcss@wam.umd.edu

For more information on IFCSS, please send email to
ccic-info@ifcss.org

Thank you.

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