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LDS Expert: Religious Rights in China Declining
WASHINGTON, DC -- Michael Young, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom, wrote U.S. President George W. Bush
last week to say that religious freedom has declined in China since
the U.S. gave the country full trading rights. Young, a member of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Dean of the George
Washington University School of Law, has become a recognized expert
in International religious freedom since his appointment to the
Commission in 1999 by then-President Bill Clinton. He was made
Chairman of the Commission in September.
The commission objected last year to the U.S. Government's proposal
to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), worried that
granting China the U.S.'s highest trade status would give the country
a license to ignore international standards on religious freedom and
reduce the pressure that the U.S. could bring to bear on the country.
In fact, Young wrote in his letter, that is exactly what has
happened, "Few assumed the human rights situation in China would
immediately improve after approval of PNTR. But instead, conditions
have worsened," he told President Bush in the letter. He said that
China has cracked down on believers outside of the state-controlled
religious organization.
Young also notes that China even manipulated the announcement of the
trade status in the case of a Protestant Christian pastor, "The
Chinese government delayed announcement of the death sentence against
Pastor Gong (which was imposed earlier in December) until just three
days after you signed the PNTR trade proclamation on Dec. 27, 2001."
Gong's case, writes Young, is the first time that a Protestant
Christian pastor has been sentenced to die since the adoption of an
"evil cult" law by China in 1999. Gong's case is on appeal.
Now, Young says, the Bush administration must take action, "The
administration must continue to tell Chinese authorities at all
levels that human rights obligations are every bit as important to
the United States, and just as binding politically on China, as other
international obligations," Young wrote.
Source:
China worse on rights, panel says
Deseret News 20Jan02 T2
By Lee Davidson: Deseret News Washington correspondent
Ex-Utahn say some Christians sent to prison or face death
See also:
Young Named Chair of US Religious Freedom Commission
Mormon News 26Sep01 T2
By Kent Larsen
Young Gets Another Term on Religious Freedom Commission
Mormon News 25May01 T2
By Kent Larsen
Michael Young: Having a 'Wonderfully Good Time'
Mormon News 2Feb01 T2
By Kent Larsen
LDS Commissioner Calls China Peril To Religion
Mormon News 7May00 T2
By Kent Larsen
LDS Law Professor Urges China To Tolerate Religion
Mormon News 9Apr00 T2
By Kent Larsen
LDS dean appointed to religious freedom panel
Mormon News 20Jun99 T2
By Kent Larsen
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