Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue criticized the US
for its planned anti-China bill concerning the human rights issue
Tuesday afternoon at the routine press conference.
She stated that the US acting Assistant Secretary of State for
Human Rights Michael Parmly announced on Tuesday that the US will
stage a bill on China's human rights on the 57th session of the
United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
She pointed out that the Chinese Government and people are firmly
opposed to such a deed of the US which interferes in China's
internal affairs by using the so-called human rights issue.
She noted that the Chinese Government has always respected the
international communities' universal principles on human rights,
and in accordance with China's domestic situations, made positive
efforts to promote and protect Chinese people's human rights and
basic freedom with great and remarkable achievements.
The various criticisms of the US on China on the excuse of
so-called human rights issue are totally unreasonable and with
ulterior motives, the spokeswoman noted.
China has always advocated that on the basis of equality and mutual
respect, disputes over human rights issue among different countries
should be treated and solved through dialogue and exchanges, said
Zhang.
Confrontations can only interfere in the international human rights
cause, and will not be of any help to the development of bilateral
relations, she added.
"We hope that the US change its ways and return to the right track
of dialogue," she concluded.
27
The Chinese government is reeducating Falun Gong practitioners who
have violated relevant laws within China's legal framework, a
Chinese anti-cult official said in Beijing Tuesday.
Liu Jing, head of a newly set anti-cult office under the State
Council, told a press conference that a number of Falun Gong
followers are put under reeducation through labor, not simply
because they practiced Falun Gong, but because they have committed
slight crimes of violating law and order.
"China's well-established system of reeducation through labor is
fully within the country's legal framework. We use it as a special
means to reassimilate law violators into society," Liu said.
When asked for comments on the overseas Falun Gong organization 's
denial of the cult identity of the five people, who set themselves
ablaze on Tian'anmen Square last month, Liu said, "It is worth
noticing that Li Hongzhi, the cult leader, and his accomplices have
recently changed their explanations for the tragic event. Li
Hongzhi's foxy statements constitute the best proof for the
unforgivable crimes he has committed."
The Office for the Prevention and Handling of Evil Cults under the
State Council was established in September 2000, responsible for
coordinating China's anti-cult efforts and exchanging views with
foreign counterparts on related issues.
(People's Daily 02/27/2001)