China, despite having one of the world’s worst records on religious freedom and other human rights, has evaded censure after the UN’s Commission on Human Rights defeated a vote on a resolution criticizing Beijing. The United States, which sponsored the resolution, took the step after years of China’s continued hardline policy on human rights.
The vote wasn’t even close, with 28 member states siding with China against the motion, only16 voting with the US, and nine abstentions. Supporters of China cited Chinese National People’s Congress’ adoption of an amendment to the 1982 constitution, including the landmark provision that “the state respects and preserves human rights.”
But human rights groups and the US stressed that words are inadequate unless followed by deeds.
China’s envoy accused the US of playing politics with the resolution.
“Wake up and stop dreaming. You cannot turn China into the United States,” Sha Zukang said.
Meanwhile reports of Chinese repression of religious groups continued to flow in.
The crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement persists unabated. The US government reports that thousands of Falun Gong members have been arrested, sent to labor camps and threatened with job loss. There are credible reports of both torture and death of those who refuse to recant after being arrested.
Christians risk serious repercussion if they worship at unregistered churches, including any Catholic church with links to the Vatican.
Authorities held the Catholic bishop of Zhengding, Julius Jia Zhiguo, captive for ten says before releasing him. Bishop Jia’s detention, which lasted through the Easter holidays, followed the arrest of another Chinese bishop in March. Jia, 69, was ordained a bishop in 1980 and has been imprisoned for a total of 20 years.
The Chinese government official in charge of religious affairs slammed Hong Kong’s Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen for criticizing government policy and called for Falun Gong to be outlawed in the territory.
Two underground Catholic priests, however, were reportedly released. Father Lu Genjun, 42, and Father Cheng Xiaoli, 40 had been detained in An Guo in northern China. Charged with “disturbing public order” for giving classes in natural family planning and Catholic morality. An Guo itself has been without a bishop since underground bishop Liu Difeng reportedly died in prison.
Freedom House’s Center for Religious Freedom hailed the release by Chinese authorities of the two Catholic priests and a Protestant pastor, Zhao Wenquan.
Still jailed is Pastor Xu Shuangfu, 59, kidnapped at gunpoint while visiting church members in Heilongjian province. Xu has spent more than 20 years in prison and is reported to be the spiritual leader of hundreds of thousands underground Christians.
“The Chinese government has shown some promising responsiveness to world public opinion,” said Center director Nina Shea, “so the pressure must continue until Xu and all religious prisoners are released.”
However, the family of a young man arrested in April for attending an unofficial Christian service in Heilongjian says they believe he was beaten to death while in police custody. Gu Xianggao, 28, was arrested on April 27 while attending a housechurch meeting.
Agence Press France reports that China has tried three underground church leaders in secret for exposing a crackdown against Christians just days after it passed the constitutional amendment to protect human rights.
Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi were tried at the Intermediate Peoples Court of Hangzhou in eastern Zhejiang province, the New York-based group Human Rights in China said. The three Christians were brought to trial on charges of “providing intelligence to organizations outside of China.” The men had told overseas groups of the suppression of Christians in Hangzhou city, where more than a dozen churches in houses were destroyed and at least 300 Christians were arrested.
On the subject of Tibet, China’s communist leaders remain adamant that the Dalai Lama will not be allowed back any time soon, fearing his return would spark separatist activism. The Dalai Lama has said he is willing to do almost anything to settle the issue of Tibet, even if it means going to China personally.
“I am not seeking independence, I am not trying to separate Tibet from China,” the Dalai Lama has said. “I am only seeking a genuine autonomy for Tibet, but the Chinese leadership has a hard time believing what I am saying. This is why a face-to-face meeting is very important.”
China is playing hardball with anyone who fails to support its Tibet policy. It even threatened to strip Liverpool of its twin city status with Shanghai if officials from the British city met the exiled Tibetan, according to reports.