Mar 14, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar. 13, 2000
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is holding its second hearing on Thursday, March 16 to examine religious persecution in China. The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the board room of the Los Angeles Unified School District building at 450 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California. The purpose of the hearing is to gather information for the Commission's first annual report to the Administration and Congress, due May 1.
The witnesses and schedule are as follows:
9:00-9:15Opening Comments: Rabbi David Saperstein, Chair
Panel I
9:15-10:30
Wei Jingsheng, human rights activist and former political prisoner
Lu (Frank) Siqing, Director, Information Center for Human Rights and Democratic Movements, Hong Kong
Mickey Spiegel, religious issues specialist (China), Human Rights Watch - Asia, New York City
10:30-10:45Break
Panel II
10:45-11:45
Xiqiu (Bob) Fu, house-church leader, fled China in 1997
Harry Wu, former detainee, President, Laogai Research Foundation
Dr. Kim-Kwong Chan, Executive Secretary, Hong Kong Christian Council
Panel III
11:45-12:30
Ajia Rinpoche, former Senior Abbot of Kumbum Monastery and former Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China
12:30-1:30Lunch
Panel IV
1:30-2:45
Erping Zhang, Falun Gong spokesman
Uighur witness via Dr. Erkin Sidick, a leader of the U.S. Uighur community
Dr. Dru Gladney, Dean, Asia-Pacific Center, Hawaii
2:45-3:00Break
Panel V
3:00-4:30
Gare Smith, Foley, Hoag & Eliot (Washington D.C. office)
Fr. Drew Christiansen, Society of Jesus, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University
Dr. Merle Goldman, John K. Fairbank Center for East Asian Research, Harvard University
4:30Closing remarks of Rabbi David Saperstein, Chair
The hearing is held under authority of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Reporters and producers wishing assistance in arranging interviews with witnesses or Commissioners may contact Communications Director Lawrence J. Goodrich at (202) 523-3240.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress."
Rabbi David Saperstein,Chair