(23 Mar 2004)
1. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher walks in
2. SOUNDBITE:(English), Richard Boucher, State Department Spokesman
"Our goal in sponsoring this resolution is to encourage China to take positive, concrete steps to meet its international obligations, to protect human rights, and fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people."
3. Cutaway of reporters
4. SOUNDBITE:(English), Richard Boucher, State Department Spokesman
"The United States has been disappointed with China's failure to meet its commitments made at the US-China human rights dialogue in December 2002, as well as the failure to follow through on the state of the .., to expand cooperation on human rights in 2003. We are concerned on backsliding on key human rights issues, that has occurred in a variety of areas since that time. We call on other members of the international community, especially members of the commission of human rights to joining this resolution." that have occurred since that
5. Cutaway
6. SOUNDBITE:(English), Richard Boucher, State Department Spokesman
"During 2003, we have seen arrests of democracy activists, we have seen internet dissidents, we have seen arrests of HIV/AIDS activists, we have seen arrests of protesting workers, arrests of house church members, and defence lawyers. Oppression of Falun Gong practitioners continues, there has been restrictions on religious expressions by Tibetan Buddhists and members of unofficial churches. The arrest of Catholic bishop.... is the latest example of detention of individuals for the peaceful expression of their religions or political views. So, as I have said, the Southern Metropolis news editor has been sentenced today. So, you just see continued arrests and practices that go against the idea that human rights are respected or enshrined in Chinese law."
STORYLINE:
The United States announced Monday that it will table a resolution citing China for human rights violations at the annual United Nations summit in Geneva which began last week.
It will be the first time that the U.S. has formally brought a resolution to the table against China, despite many years of tension between the two countries on the issue of human rights.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher announced the move at his daily briefing in Washington, citing "backsliding" on China's part on agreements reached previously with the United States.
The U.S. hopes to sign up other nations to support its resolution, but was not ready to name any co-sponsors, said Boucher.
The 53-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission kicked off its annual six-week session on March 15th. China, who considers human rights to be an internal matter, has been lobbying Washington heavily in recent weeks to keep such a resolution off the table.
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