Monday
Nov232009
House GOP'ers Want Justice For Chinese Human Rights Attorney
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 4:45PM
By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Reps. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and others spoke out Monday against the arrest of Jiang Tianyong, a Chinese human rights lawyer who was arrested after requesting to meet with President Obama at the American Embassy in Beijing during his trip to China.
Multiple requests by Tianyong and other human rights lawyers to meet with the U.S. President were turned down. After Obama left China, Tianyong’s wife was allegedly beaten and he was taken away by Chinese officials.
Upon his release, Tianyong testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) about various human rights abuses associated with China’s one-child policy. The policy limits married Chinese couples to one child, with a birth permit. If they choose to have a second child, couples must have both a pregnancy permit and a birth permit.
Smith explained that Monday's news conference was held as a means of raising awareness about Tianyong's arrest and to help him avoid potential future incarceration.
“That’s why we’re asking the President to pick up the phone, and call Hu Jintao and to raise the issue of the lawyers, especially Jiang, and others, but certainly his case, because he specifically asked to meet with the President and was turned down,” said Smith.
Reps. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and others spoke out Monday against the arrest of Jiang Tianyong, a Chinese human rights lawyer who was arrested after requesting to meet with President Obama at the American Embassy in Beijing during his trip to China.
Multiple requests by Tianyong and other human rights lawyers to meet with the U.S. President were turned down. After Obama left China, Tianyong’s wife was allegedly beaten and he was taken away by Chinese officials.
Upon his release, Tianyong testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) about various human rights abuses associated with China’s one-child policy. The policy limits married Chinese couples to one child, with a birth permit. If they choose to have a second child, couples must have both a pregnancy permit and a birth permit.
Smith explained that Monday's news conference was held as a means of raising awareness about Tianyong's arrest and to help him avoid potential future incarceration.
“That’s why we’re asking the President to pick up the phone, and call Hu Jintao and to raise the issue of the lawyers, especially Jiang, and others, but certainly his case, because he specifically asked to meet with the President and was turned down,” said Smith.
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