March 3, 2003
Volume 5/ Number 6
Dear Colleague:
PRI’s third Human Rights in China conference takes place this year on March 6, at the national headquarters of Concerned Women for America (CWA—1015 Fifteenth St. N.W., Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005). To obtain more information about registration and attendance—which is by invitation only—please contact PRI’s Conference Coordinator at [email protected] at 540-622-5240.
Steven W. Mosher
President
PRI China Conference Features Update of One-Child Policy, Religious Persecution and Persecution of Americans
This year’s PRI Human Rights in China conference is titled “Human Rights Abuses in China: An Update on Population and Religious Persecution,” and features two panels.
The first panel, “Reproductive Freedom: Update on One-Child Policy Abuses,” runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The second, “Freedom of Conscience: Update on Persecution of Religious Believers,” runs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Lunch will be served from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. followed by a press conference from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
During the first panel, PRI president Steven Mosher will provide a current analysis of China’s one-child policy. Dr. John Aird, the former lead China demographer for the U.S. Census Bureau, will provide an update of the one-child policy in China as it relates to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). Miss Rukiye Tuerdixi, a representative of the Uyghur people of Western China, including Xianjiang Province, will provide new information about persecution under the One-Child policy.
In Western China, the UNFPA claims that its project in Kuerle County in Xianjiang Province promotes voluntary family planning in China. But in July of 2002, the U.S. State Department concluded that UNFPA was actually helping the Chinese government to carry out its program of coercive abortion “more effectively.” In announcing its new program in China (2003-2005), UNFPA described its last program as a “success… beyond expectation” and said that aspects of its last program are being expanded from 32 counties to as many as 800. At PRI’s first China conference, Uyghur representatives presented information on China’s genocidal policies and programs aimed at the Uyghurs. Is UNFPA helping to reform abuses committed against the Uyghur people of China? Information provided by Miss Tuerdixi will call UNFPA’s claims into question.
In addition, Steven Mosher will present the findings of PRI’s latest China investigation, which shows that UNFPA’s claims of helping promote voluntary family planning in China are impossible.
In the afternoon session, Mrs. Catherine Ho, who was arrested in China on false charges of “crimes against China” for being a Catholic, will provide an update of the current persecution of the Catholic Church in China. Mr. Bob Fu, who was arrested in China for “illegal evangelization” will provide an update of current persecution against Christians and the home church movement in China.
The international spokesperson of Falun Gong, Erping Zhang, along with Gail Rachlin, will speak on current persecution of Falun Gong in China. Recently in China, Chinese families of American Falun Gong practitioners, and Mr. Charles Li, a U.S. Citizen from Menlo Park, California, are being held hostage by the Chinese government. Mr. Li’s fiancée, Yeong-Ching Foo, will speak at the conference. While entering China this January 22, on a trip to visit family members, Mr. Li was detained by authorities at the Guanzhou Airport then transferred approximately 1,000 miles to a detention facility. He faces punishment of up to 15 years imprisonment on false charges. Dr. Jingduan Young will present information about the targeted persecution of Chinese families of American Falun Gong practitioners.
Following the conference on Friday at noon, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners will organize a protest at the U.S. State Department calling on the State Department to demand the release of Mr. Li.
Conference highlights will be featured for the media at a press conference from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m., which U.S. Representative Christopher Smith will attend.
Audiotapes of conference talks will be available after the conference. To order, please call 540-622-5240, ext. 205.
