Delivered
by Mr. Wei JINGSHENGGeneva, 17 April 2000
Mr. Chairman and the Committee,
I speak on behalf of the Transnational Radical Party, on the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular on the protection of human rights for workers.
In China, besides the so-called non-governmental organizations of the Chinese government, most of the human rights work is done by individuals in the opposite groups. Most of this kind of human rights work would be disturbed and even suppressed by the Chinese government.
Take the example of Mrs. Ding ZhiLing of People's University in Beijing. Mrs. Ding's son was killed in the 1989 TianAnMen massacre. She contacted other victims' families to assist different international human rights organizations in an effort of passing humanitarian assistance to the June 4 victims and families. Unfortunately, her home is under constant surveillance and harassment by the police. Her phone is now tapped. She and her family were often forced away from their residence in Beijing, into remote countryside location by the police.
Earlier this month, Mrs. Edger Snow and her family went to Beijing, in an effort to deliver some humanitarian donations to Mrs. Ding and some of the victims' families, as well as to pass on the greetings and caring messages from overseas friends. After a phone conversation between the two ladies, Mrs. Ding's family was surrounded by dozens of policemen. The police warned Mrs. Ding not to meet Mrs. Snow neither in her home, nor outside. They didn't let her accept any overseas donation.
Many were killed in the 1989, massacre. Many of them had young children who need the care and love of their parents, who have left them forever. Many people were wounded and handicapped. These individuals could not find work not only for health reasons, but also because of they are the quasi-political prisoners of the Chinese government. They really need sympathy and help from friends both inside and outside of China.
The Chinese government sent the police to stop this kind of help and caring. When Mrs. Ding asked to meet Mrs. Snow, on the condition not to say a single word but just to hold hand - as a way to express the gratitude from the victims' families to the overseas friends - the Government refused to allow it. Mrs. Snow had to return Switzerland with great disappointment. The humanitarian assistance of kind overseas friends got trapped into the Chinese police's control.
This kind of events have happened many times. During my short parole period in 1993, I had tried to help these victims' families to build some connection, in an effort to transfer this kind of humanitarian aid to them. But when I got arrested, some donations were taken by the police and could not be forwarded to the families. What followed was even worse. In fact, in 1995, I was sentenced again by the Chinese government, which used these donation as an excuse to indicted me of "overthrowing the government". There have been many human rights workersf sentenced in the last few years in a similar manner.
One of most recent episodes happened here in Geneva, in the big coffee room next to this conference room. Few days ago, some Chinese delegates refused to accept some material regarding political prisoners. They refused to talk about human rights issues with the family members of the political prisoners. They even called the police to kick away these people who politely requested to have a conversation with them, in an effort to improve Chinese human rights record.
Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, the attitude of the Chinese government has caused not only a deterioration of the human rights condition in China, but has also jeopardized workers rights in China. The UN should promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the different international covenants. The UN should request the Chinese government to maintain the promises made to protect the minimum individual political rights.
On this world, there are very few people who are willing to work and sacrifice for the rights of the others. This is an understandable reality. If we cannot protect these people who sacrifice their own time and interest for human rights, if we allow these human rights workers to get punished and put their life in danger, then whom shall we depend upon to push and appeal to all the governments to respect the basic rights of its people?
The UN Human Rights Declaration could only be promoted and exercised under the kindness and the support of the governments of each country. But that surely would not be enough. It should not be ignored, and is extremely important, that we need the work done by non-governmental human rights workers.
We must put the protection of human rights workers on a higher priority. So their work could be helpful to promote and protect human rights of the others.
Thank you very much.