David Price
4th District, North Carolina

Dear Mr. ... (name omitted to avoid Chinese embassy's harassment):

Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent national Falun Gong rally in Washington DC.

Like you, I am concerned about the repression of religious expression and other human rights in China. I had the opportunity to travel to China this past spring, and took the opportunity to raise the issue of Chinese repression of Falun Gong. As you might imagine, I did not receive a satisfactory answer to my inquiry, but we must take every opportunity to press the issue. Over the past few years, violence against Falun Gong practitioners has become systematic. The displays at your rally graphically demonstrated that thousands of Chinese citizens suffer torture and maltreatment in China's prisons and labor camps for their practice of Falun Gong.

It may also interest you to know that the Congress is considering legislation reflecting its opposition to religious persecution in China. H. Con. Res. 68 would express the sense of congress that the Chinese government should stop persecution of all religious practitioners and safeguard fundamental human rights. Further, the resolution would urge the Chinese government to release from detention all religious practitioners, allow the Chinese people to pursue their personal beliefs, and adhere to international covenants on civil and political rights. The bill is now under consideration by the House International Relations Committee.

I greatly appreciate opportunities to discuss the issue of human rights in China, and was pleased to be able to meet with several practitioners of Falun Gong on July 17. Although I had a scheduling conflict, several of my staff members were able to attend the DC rally and familiarized themselves with the principles and practice of Falun Gong. They shared with me the descriptions of repression that practitioners suffer.

I have always believed that U.S. foreign policy should actively promote human rights, and that all countries should be held accountable for human rights abuses, including the violation of freedom of religion.

I appreciate the benefit of your views in this matter, and I will continue doing all I can to expand religious freedom and human rights in China.

Sincerely,

David Price
Member of Congress