IV
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 117
Concerning writer, political philosopher, human rights advocate, and Nobel
Peace Prize nominee Wei Jingsheng.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 5, 1995
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. WOLF,
Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. COX of California, Mr. BERMAN, Mr.
ROHRABACHER, and Mr. GEJDENSON) submitted the following concurrent
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Rela-
tions
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Concerning writer, political philosopher, human rights
advocate, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Wei Jingsheng.
Whereas Wei Jingsheng is a writer, political philosopher, and
human rights advocate who is widely known and re-
spected in China and throughout the world;
Whereas on November 21, 1995, the Government of the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China announced the arrest of Wei
Jingsheng and its intention to try him for ‘‘attempt[ing]
to overthrow the government’’;
Whereas prior to this announcement Wei had been detained
since April 1994 without formal charges or the oppor-
tunity to communicate with his family or with legal coun-
sel, in violation of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration
•HCON 117 IH
of Human Rights and other international standards pro-
hibiting arbitrary arrest and detention;
Whereas the government had previously imprisoned Wei from
1979 
until 
1993 
on 
a 
charge 
of 
‘‘spreading
counterrevolutionary propaganda’’ for his peaceful par-
ticipation in the Democracy Wall movement;
Whereas Wei’s analysis of democracy in 1979 as a necessary
‘‘fifth modernization’’ was an important theoretical and
practical contribution to the movement for freedom and
democracy in China and also to modern political philoso-
phy;
Whereas during his long imprisonment Wei was subjected to
torture and other ill treatment which left him in ex-
tremely poor health;
Whereas after his release in 1993 Wei devoted his time to hu-
manitarian activities, including visiting and assisting the
families of victims of the June 4, 1989, massacre at
Tiananmen Square, as well as the surviving victims them-
selves, and assisting the civilian effort to secure com-
pensation for damages caused to the Chinese people by
the Japanese Government during World War II;
Whereas, far from advocating an ‘‘overthrow’’ of the Govern-
ment of China, Wei has been a strong advocate of non-
violence and a peaceful transition to democracy;
Whereas Wei was regarded as a leading contender for the
1995 Nobel Peace Prize, having been nominated by par-
liamentarians throughout the world, including 58 mem-
bers of the United States Congress, and endorsed by
hundreds of prominent human rights advocates including
past Nobel Laureates Oscar Arias Sanchez, Elie Wiesel,
and His Holiness the Dalai Lama;
•HCON 117 IH
Whereas Wei was also the recipient of the 1995 Olaf Palme
Foundation Award, the 1994 Robert F. Kennedy Human
Rights Award, and the 1993 Gleitsman Foundation
International Activist Award; and
Whereas because of his great courage, the force of his ideas,
and his long unjust imprisonment Wei has come to em-
body the aspirations of the people of China for democracy
and for the enjoyment of free speech and other universal
and inalienable human rights, and his fate has come to
symbolize their fate: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the United States Congress—
(1) urges the immediate and unconditional re-
lease of Wei Jingsheng and the dismissal of all
charges against him;
(2) urges, in the event Wei Jingsheng is not im-
mediately released, that he be afforded all inter-
nationally recognized human rights, including the
right to consult freely with counsel of his choice, to
assist in the preparation of his defense, and to com-
municate with his family, and that his trial be open
to the domestic and foreign press, to diplomatic ob-
servers, and to international human rights monitors;
(3) urges the United States Department of
State to make the release of Wei Jingsheng and the
protection of his internationally recognized human
rights among its primary objectives in relations with
•HCON 117 IH
the Government of China, and that it raise these is-
sues forcefully and effectively in every available bi-
lateral and multilateral forum; and
(4) recommends that Wei Jingsheng once again
be nominated and carefully considered for the Nobel
Peace Price in 1996.
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