IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 6

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding support for the formation

of the China Democracy Party (CDP) and to urge the Government

of the People’s Republic of China to guarantee the rights and safety

of the CDP organizers.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 6, 1999

Mr. ROHRABACHER (for himself, Mr. DELAY, Mr. COX of California, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SPENCE, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr.

HUNTER, Mr. PORTER, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. POMBO, and Mr.

RADANOVICH) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding support for

the formation of the China Democracy Party (CDP)

and to urge the Government of the People’s Republic

of China to guarantee the rights and safety of the CDP

organizers.

Whereas the establishment of the China Democracy Party on

June 24, 1998, was the first attempt since the founding

of the People’s Republic of China to officially register an

opposition party, with the intention of developing a

multiparty system on mainland China;

Whereas during the visit of President Clinton to the People’s

Republic of China in June 1998, the Chinese Communist
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leadership indicated a commitment to consider further reforms and a full human rights dialogue with the international community;

Whereas during the visit to the People’s Republic of China

in September 1998 of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, the Chinese

Government promised to sign the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights;

Whereas Article 35 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China guarantees the freedom of association for

Chinese citizens;

Whereas during the visit of Mary Robinson, the Department

of Civil Affairs indicated that the China Democracy

Party might be able to register in Shandong Province on

the conditions that the local party had at least 50 members, that the party pay a registration fee of 50,000

yuan, that the resumes of party organizers be submitted

to the Department, and that the party’s local office address be submitted;

Whereas immediately after Mary Robinson departed the People’s Republic of China, Chinese authorities pronounced

the China Democracy Party to be illegal and systematically intimidated and persecuted members of that party,

by arresting and detaining them and engaging in other

forms of police intimidation;

Whereas in December 1998 the leaders of the China Democracy Party, including Xu Wenli, Wang Youcai, and Quin

Yongmin, were given long-term prison sentences, without

fair legal representation, by courts run by the Chinese

Communist Party, labor leader Zhang Shanguang was

given a long-term prison sentence for discussing with
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United States-based Radio Free Asia the hardships of

Chinese farmers and workers, and many other China Democracy Party founding members, human rights campaigners, and labor activists have been arrested and are

facing summary trials; and

Whereas new laws issued by the Supreme People’s Court of

the People’s Republic of China subject all writers, actors,

singers, film makers, and computer software programmers to life in prison if they are accused of endangering

the exclusive role of the Communist Party: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the United States should publicly urge the

4 People’s Republic of China to abide by the articles

5 of the United Nations Convention on Civil and Polit6 ical Rights;

7 (2) the United States should publicly show its

8 support and encouragement for political reforms in

9 the People’s Republic of China, including a peaceful

10 transition to a multiparty political system;

11 (3) the United States should publicly urge the

12 People’s Republic of China to permit the registration

13 of the China Democracy Party, without discrimina14 tion or penalties for its organizers and members;

15 and

16 (4) the United States should urge the release

17 from detention and house arrest of all members of
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1 the China Democracy Party and other peaceful ad2 vocates for democracy and civil and human rights,

3 and a cessation of intimidation and persecution of

4 advocates of democracy in China.

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