Fifteen years ago, grave human rights violations occurred in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Several hundred demonstrators were killed and more than 1,000 wounded after martial law was declared by the People's Liberation Army. They were speaking out for freedom and democracy. They stood for the principles of basic decency and human rights for all people and all religions across the world.
Their message, 15 years later, cannot be lost. China's government has yet to improve its human rights practices. Over 2,000 people are still imprisoned from 'Beijing Spring' and the incident at Tiananmen Square. The government continues to harass members of all faiths. Catholic priests, Protestant pastors, Falun Gong members, Muslim followers, and Buddhist nuns and monks are all subject to random arrests, beatings, imprisonment without due process, or sentencing to 're-education through labour' camps. Over 100,000 members of Falun Gong have been sent to labour camps without trial since it was officially banned in 1999. More than 20,000 Christians have been arrested and beaten since 1983, simply based on their faith. At least 10 Catholic bishops are still in jail. These sort of continued human rights abuses cannot go unchecked.
The State Department just released its annual countries report on human rights. The section on China is 71 pages, detailing the long list of oppressions by its government. We must speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves. I urge people to continue fighting for the rights of others across the world.
FRANK R. WOLF, Member of the US Congress
Grey skies in Beijing
Today (June 4), the sky over Beijing was grey. I cannot remember if the sky was as grey 15 years ago.