A resolution recalling the Government of China's forcible dispersion of those peaceably assembled in Tiananmen Square 25 years ago, in light of China's continued abysmal human rights record.

Bill: 113-sres-451
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2014-05-15
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia

China

Congressional tributes

Detention of persons

Human rights

Protest and dissent

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Religion

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

United Nations
Latest action: action_date: 2014-06-04
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3430-3431)

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-05-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned for their participation in the June 1989 democracy gathering in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, China.</p> <p> Commends all peaceful advocates for democracy and human rights in China. </p> <p>Condemns the ongoing human rights abuses by China. </p> <p>Calls on China to: (1) release all prisoners of conscience, including persons still in prison for their participation in the 1989 pro-democracy gatherings; (2) allow those people exiled for their activities to return to live in freedom in China; and (3) cease the harassment, detention, and imprisonment of Chinese citizens exercising their freedoms of expression, association, and religion. </p> <p>Calls upon the U.S. representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution calling for an examination of China's human rights practices. </p>

action_date: 2014-05-20
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b></p> <p>Expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned for their participation in the June 1989 democracy gathering in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, China.</p> <p> Commends all peaceful advocates for democracy and human rights in China. </p> <p>Condemns the ongoing human rights abuses by China. </p> <p>Calls on China to: (1) release all prisoners of conscience, including persons still in prison for their participation in the 1989 pro-democracy gatherings; (2) allow those people exiled for their activities to return to live in freedom in China; and (3) cease the harassment, detention, and imprisonment of Chinese citizens exercising their freedoms of expression, association, and religion. </p> <p>Calls upon the U.S. representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution calling for an examination of China's human rights practices.</p>

action_date: 2014-06-04
action_desc: Passed Senate without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b></p> <p>Expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned for their participation in the June 1989 democracy gathering in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, China.</p> <p> Commends all peaceful advocates for democracy and human rights in China. </p> <p>Condemns the ongoing human rights abuses by China. </p> <p>Calls on China to: (1) release all prisoners of conscience, including persons still in prison for their participation in the 1989 pro-democracy gatherings; (2) allow those people exiled for their activities to return to live in freedom in China; and (3) cease the harassment, detention, and imprisonment of Chinese citizens exercising their freedoms of expression, association, and religion. </p> <p>Calls upon the U.S. representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution calling for an examination of China's human rights practices.</p>

tv_txt: III 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 451 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 15, 2014 Mr. Barrasso submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recalling the Government of China's forcible dispersion of those peaceably assembled in Tiananmen Square 25 years ago, in light of China’s continued abysmal human rights record.

Whereas, in 1989, Chinese citizens involved in a peaceful democratic movement gathered in Tiananmen Square to call for the establishment of a dialogue with their government on democratic reforms, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly; Whereas, on June 4, 1989, Chinese authorities ordered the People’s Liberation Army and other security forces to use lethal force to disperse demonstrators in Tiananmen Square; Whereas the number of peaceful protesters killed or injured by the forcible dispersion remains unknown to this day; Whereas, 25 years after these deaths, there has been no accountability on the part of the Government of the People's Republic of China in disciplining involved officials; Whereas there remain imprisoned to this day individuals who expressed their desire for democracy in China 25 years ago in Tiananmen Square; Whereas the Department of State's most recent human rights report on China found that citizens did not have the right to change their government ; Whereas, even in recent weeks, the Government of the People's Republic of China has detained those who attempt to peacefully commemorate the events of June 1989, including activists such as Pu Zhiqiang and Wen Kejian; Whereas the Department of State’s most recent human rights report on China found extrajudicial killings remained a problem in China; Whereas the Department of State’s most recent human rights report on China found the government continued to target for arbitrary detention or arrest human rights activists, journalists … and former political prisoners and their family members ; and Whereas June 4, 2014, is the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned as a result of their participation in the democracy gathering on June 4, 1989, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China; (2) commends all peaceful advocates for democracy and human rights in China; (3) condemns the ongoing and egregious human rights abuses by the Communist Government of the People's Republic of China; (4) calls on the Communist Government of the People's Republic of China to— (A) release all prisoners of conscience, including those persons still in prison as a result of their participation in the peaceful pro-democracy gatherings of 1989 and those detained for their commemoration of these events; (B) allow those people exiled on account of their activities to return to live in freedom in China; and (C) cease the harassment, detention, and imprisonment of all Chinese citizens exercising their freedoms of expression, association, and religion; and (5) calls upon the United States representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution in that forum calling for an examination of the human rights practices of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

tv_txt: III Calendar No. 383 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 451 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 15, 2014 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Durbin ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations May 20, 2014 Reported by Mr. Menendez , without amendment RESOLUTION Recalling the Government of China's forcible dispersion of those peaceably assembled in Tiananmen Square 25 years ago, in light of China’s continued abysmal human rights record.

Whereas, in 1989, Chinese citizens involved in a peaceful democratic movement gathered in Tiananmen Square to call for the establishment of a dialogue with their government on democratic reforms, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly; Whereas, on June 4, 1989, Chinese authorities ordered the People’s Liberation Army and other security forces to use lethal force to disperse demonstrators in Tiananmen Square; Whereas the number of peaceful protesters killed or injured by the forcible dispersion remains unknown to this day; Whereas, 25 years after these deaths, there has been no accountability on the part of the Government of the People's Republic of China in disciplining involved officials; Whereas there remain imprisoned to this day individuals who expressed their desire for democracy in China 25 years ago in Tiananmen Square; Whereas the Department of State's most recent human rights report on China found that citizens did not have the right to change their government ; Whereas, even in recent weeks, the Government of the People's Republic of China has detained those who attempt to peacefully commemorate the events of June 1989, including activists such as Pu Zhiqiang and Wen Kejian; Whereas the Department of State’s most recent human rights report on China found extrajudicial killings remained a problem in China; Whereas the Department of State’s most recent human rights report on China found the government continued to target for arbitrary detention or arrest human rights activists, journalists … and former political prisoners and their family members ; and Whereas June 4, 2014, is the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned as a result of their participation in the democracy gathering on June 4, 1989, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China; (2) commends all peaceful advocates for democracy and human rights in China; (3) condemns the ongoing and egregious human rights abuses by the Communist Government of the People's Republic of China; (4) calls on the Communist Government of the People's Republic of China to— (A) release all prisoners of conscience, including those persons still in prison as a result of their participation in the peaceful pro-democracy gatherings of 1989 and those detained for their commemoration of these events; (B) allow those people exiled on account of their activities to return to live in freedom in China; and (C) cease the harassment, detention, and imprisonment of all Chinese citizens exercising their freedoms of expression, association, and religion; and (5) calls upon the United States representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution in that forum calling for an examination of the human rights practices of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

May 20, 2014 Reported without amendment

tv_txt: III 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 451 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 15, 2014 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Rubio , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Graham , Mr. Cruz , and Mr. Enzi ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations May 20, 2014 Reported by Mr. Menendez , without amendment June 4, 2014 Considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recalling the Government of China's forcible dispersion of those peaceably assembled in Tiananmen Square 25 years ago, in light of China’s continued abysmal human rights record.

Whereas, in 1989, Chinese citizens involved in a peaceful democratic movement gathered in Tiananmen Square to call for the establishment of a dialogue with their government on democratic reforms, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly; Whereas, on June 4, 1989, Chinese authorities ordered the People’s Liberation Army and other security forces to use lethal force to disperse demonstrators in Tiananmen Square; Whereas the number of peaceful protesters killed or injured by the forcible dispersion remains unknown to this day; Whereas, 25 years after these deaths, there has been no accountability on the part of the Government of the People's Republic of China in disciplining involved officials; Whereas there remain imprisoned to this day individuals who expressed their desire for democracy in China 25 years ago in Tiananmen Square; Whereas the Department of State's most recent human rights report on China found that citizens did not have the right to change their government ; Whereas, even in recent weeks, the Government of the People's Republic of China has detained those who attempt to peacefully commemorate the events of June 1989, including activists such as Pu Zhiqiang and Wen Kejian; Whereas the Department of State’s most recent human rights report on China found extrajudicial killings remained a problem in China; Whereas the Department of State’s most recent human rights report on China found the government continued to target for arbitrary detention or arrest human rights activists, journalists … and former political prisoners and their family members ; and Whereas June 4, 2014, is the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned as a result of their participation in the democracy gathering on June 4, 1989, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China; (2) commends all peaceful advocates for democracy and human rights in China; (3) condemns the ongoing and egregious human rights abuses by the Communist Government of the People's Republic of China; (4) calls on the Communist Government of the People's Republic of China to— (A) release all prisoners of conscience, including those persons still in prison as a result of their participation in the peaceful pro-democracy gatherings of 1989 and those detained for their commemoration of these events; (B) allow those people exiled on account of their activities to return to live in freedom in China; and (C) cease the harassment, detention, and imprisonment of all Chinese citizens exercising their freedoms of expression, association, and religion; and (5) calls upon the United States representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution in that forum calling for an examination of the human rights practices of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.