News & Views

Harry Wu to Obama: Summon the Courage

Tomorrow morning, President Obama will meet with President Hu Jintao in a series of talks which will set the trajectory of US-Chinese relations for the remainder of his tenure in office.  We applaud the President for beginning his State visit by speaking yesterday in Shanghai concerning religious freedom and freedom of expression.  However, in order to make true progress in the human rights debate with Chinese leaders, the President must fully integrate human rights into the larger discourse concerning our strategic partnership.  

Many in the West have become enamored of the narrative that China is slowly plodding towards political liberalization.  Thus far, the Obama administration’s dealings with China have been in this vein, focusing on issues of so-called “strategic interest,” largely to the exclusion of human rights.  Secretary Clinton went so far as to declare we wouldn’t let human rights, “interfere” with dialogues on issues like global climate change and the financial crisis.  This may be appealing, but in the long run the choice between human rights and strategic interests is a false one.  China’s central government may sign on to global climate initiatives, but local officials will continue jailing journalists for reporting on lead poisoning in children.  Should the US and China reach favorable trade agreements, this does not ensure clarity with regards to the growth rates issued by the Chinese government (7.1% for the first half of 2009 despite falling energy use and tax revenues for the same period). Does it stand to reason that a government that can’t enforce its own domestic environmental regulations will enforce international agreements on the same subject?  Is it sound economic practice to stake our own financial recovery on a state-run economy with murky statistics?  Although conversations on “strategic interests,” may seem relatively simple compared to human rights dialogue, the Obama administration would do well to remember, with China there are no easy issues.   (Read more after the jump)

However, there is one fact about China that remains certain: should the regime’s gross violations of human rights go unchecked by the international community, the abuses will continue.   The Chinese Communist Party’s disregard for human dignity is endemic at all levels. Women who breach the One-Child policy by having a second child, a child out of wedlock, or by neglecting to apply for a birth permit in their first trimester, can be subjected to crippling fines, destruction of their homes, and even forced abortions (as late as nine months) and forced sterilizations.  Roman Catholics, Protestant Christians, Uyghur Muslims, and Tibetan Buddhists, among many others,  are unable to practice their religions freely.  

Finally, there is the Laogai system, a network of “re-education through labor” camps where three to five million people currently suffer.   This system is modeled on the Soviet Gulag, but unlike the Gulag, it exists today.  I spent 19 years interred in these camps, and now bear witness to the evils of this system where inmates are forced to labor long hours in unsafe working conditions for no pay, little food, and with abysmal medical care. In a country where the judicial system is in shambles—the use of torture to extract confessions is common, and literally anyone can be imprisoned for up to three years without trial or charge—this system exists as a means of repressing those who stand in opposition to the Communist regime.   

Human rights should not be boxed away, taken out only to make campaign promises.  Indeed, human rights are a matter of life and death the world over, and China is no exception. My story is one among millions. Remember, Mr. President, the names on that prisoner list you have with you are not merely names, but symbols of freedom, people who had the courage to stand against oppression and had no fear of the repercussions. Remember, also, that dozens were detained or placed under house arrest in the days leading up to your arrival; their freedom was taken away simply to ensure that your visit goes smoothly. By bifurcating dialogue on “strategic interests” and human rights, you ignore the crux of the problem in US-China relations and dishonor those who give their freedom for the cause of a better China.  Indeed, a free and fair China is in everyone’s strategic interest.  I ask you, Mr. President, when you meet with leaders in Beijing tomorrow, to summon the courage to ask, “What about human rights?”   
 

对中共外交部的〝那他应该更能理解中国反对西藏独立〞一说,奥巴马会有回应吗?(作者:透视镜)

中共外交部在美国总统启程访问包括中国在内的太平洋地区四大经济国的前夕,对西藏问题,发表了这样一番言论:奥巴马作为一名黑人总统,对林肯在美国废除农奴制度进程中的作用大加颂扬,那他应更能理解中国反对西藏独立、反对达赖喇嘛从事分裂中国活动的立场。

显然中共是希望奥巴马对西藏的问题沉默不语。可是基于缺乏对美国历史的认知,尤其基于根本性的缺乏对基本人权的尊重,中共对美国总统,甚至对美国人民,在关心这一问题上的出发点是本末倒置地给弄错了。

第一,美国人权重于一切:林肯主张解放黑奴,是站在一个人权重于一切的原则下进行的。美国是一个施行仁政的国家,面对一个施行暴政的中共,奥巴马当然能理解中国反对西藏独立的立场。第二,美国南北战争不是一起统一战争。美国在南北战争中牺牲的人数不下六十二万,其中包括死于战役的二十万三千人。可是即使林肯总统在其任上,美国人流了最多的血,迄今,他还是最为美国人尊崇的总统之一。其一大原因是,林肯标榜了美国立国的精神,他让美国人民骄傲。美国的南北战不是为了保持国土完整,更不是为了伸张霸权。美国人民对人权的认知,恐怕不是中共这一个主张唯物论、容许捣毁文化、鼓励弱肉强食的政权所能理解的。

 

對中共外交部的〝那他應該更能理解中國反對西藏獨立〞一說,奧巴馬會有回應嗎?(作者:透視鏡)

中共外交部在美國總統啟程訪問包括中國在內的太平洋地區四大經濟國的前夕,對西藏問題,發表了這樣一番言論:奧巴馬作為一名黑人總統,對林肯在美國廢除農奴制度進程中的作用大加頌揚,那他應更能理解中國反對西藏獨立、反對達賴喇嘛從事分裂中國活動的立場。

顯然中共是希望奧巴馬對西藏的問題諴默不語。可是基於缺乏對美國歷史的認知,尤其基於根本性的缺乏對基本人權的尊重,中共對美國總統,甚至對美國人民,在關心這一問題上的出發點是本末倒置地給弄錯了。

第一,美國人權重於一切:林肯主張解放黑奴,是站在一個人權重於一切的原則下進行的。美國是一個施行仁政的國家,面對一個施行暴政的中共,奧巴馬當然能理解中國反對西藏獨立的立場。第二,美國南北戰爭不是一起統一戰爭。美國在南北戰爭中犧牲的人數不下六十二萬,其中包括死於戰役的二十萬三千人。可是即使林肯總統在其任上,美國人流了最多的血,迄今,他還是最為美國人尊崇的總統之一。其一大原因是,林肯標榜了美國立國的精神,他讓美國人民驕傲。美國的南北戰不是為了保持國土完整,更不是為了伸張霸權。美國人民對人權的認知,恐怕不是中共這一個主張唯物論、容許搗毀文化、鼓勵弱肉強食的政權所能理解的。

 

柏林墻倒了,中國的防火墻長城呢?

11月16日,美國總統奧巴馬任職後的首次正式訪華之行爆出了新熱門——在與上海大學生進行的一次現場互動問答當中,奧巴馬總統公開批評中國政府建構的網絡防火墻長城嚴重阻礙了網絡信息傳播和言論自由。這段視頻在中國國內各大網站上很快被“和諧”掉了,能“翻墻”瀏覽境外網站、觀看這段視頻的中國網民仍寥寥無幾。

上個禮拜,各國在德國慶祝柏林墻倒塌二十周年的盛況猶歷歷在目。可全世界好像忘記了一個糟糕的事實:德國的柏林墻倒了,中國防火墻長城樹立起來了。這意味著共產主義陣營的遺毒仍未被完全清楚,占世界人口五分之一的中國人民還沒有真正的自由民主可言——無論是現實生活當中還是在虛擬的網絡世界裏。因此,中國網絡上流行著千奇百怪的縮寫、替代詞,如果不是資深網民,還真需要費一番工夫去弄明白這些在防火墻長城下被生造出來的詞匯。

防火墻長城也許會倒掉,sooner or later.

柏林墙倒了,中国的防火墙长城呢?

11月16日,美国总统奥巴马任职后的首次正式访华之行爆出了新热门——在与上海大学生进行的一次现场互动问答当中,奥巴马总统公开批评中国政府建构的网络防火墙长城严重阻碍了网络信息传播和言论自由。这段视频在中国国内各大网站上很快被“和谐”掉了,能“翻墙”浏览境外网站、观看这段视频的中国网民仍寥寥无几。

上个礼拜,各国在德国庆祝柏林墙倒塌二十周年的盛况犹历历在目。可全世界好像忘记了一个糟糕的事实:德国的柏林墙倒了,中国防火墙长城树立起来了。这意味着共产主义阵营的遗毒仍未被完全清楚,占世界人口五分之一的中国人民还没有真正的自由民主可言——无论是现实生活当中还是在虚拟的网络世界里。因此,中国网络上流行着千奇百怪的缩写、替代词,如果不是资深网民,还真需要费一番工夫去弄明白这些在防火墙长城下被生造出来的词汇。

防火墙长城也许会倒掉,sooner or later.

Obama talks Internet Freedom, Freedom of Religion in Shanghai

On his visit to Shanghai, President Obama defended internet and religious freedoms during a townhall forum with around 400 Shanghai students.  "These freedoms of expression and worship, of access to information and political participation, we believe are universal rights," the president said, referring to four rights curtailed in China.

Unsurprisingly, the Chinese government was at work to censor the President's anti-censorship message, blocking internet portals that streamed the event.  According to the Christian Science Monitor, "Chinese censors blocked Facebook and YouTube, limiting coverage to local TV and China's official news agency." To see the president's message, view the videos below:

 

美國首都華盛頓的勞改紀念館舉辦一場特別展覽,介紹新疆地區維吾爾族人遭受中國當局的勞改迫害。維吾爾族活動人士、世界維吾爾代表大會主席熱比婭.卡德爾也到場參加開幕儀式。熱比婭表示,希望這個展覽能夠有助於加深維、漢兩族人民之間的了解。(閱讀更多,請點擊這裏

我很榮幸受到國會人權委員會的邀請,為中國的強制性一胎化政策作證。在此,我向委員會對中國人權的不懈關註表示感謝。

1998年,2001年和2004年,我和其他證人一起曾就這個問題在國會作證。令人遺憾的是,這些聽證會的影響力並沒有得到很好發揮,中國的強制性一胎化政策基本上沒有改變,這一政策導致的侵犯人權的行為在全國各地仍然普遍存在。(閱讀更多,請點擊這裏

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