| CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE FALUN GONG NEWS An amateur photographer in Tiananmen Square told Agence France Presse that 15 Falun Gong practitioners were arrested in less than an hour on Thursday for protesting the Communist government's crackdown on the spiritual movement. Frank Lu, director of the information Center for Human Rights and Democracy in China, said police arrest up to 100 members of Falun Gong every day in Beijing alone. Communist China has also infiltrated the movement in many areas as part of their desperate, and in manye eyes futile attempt to destroy it. Proof of the Communists� failure came in the form of World Falundafa Radio, which began broadcasting the truth about the suffering of Falun Gong practitioners into Communist China on Saturday. OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROTEST NEWS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CALLS FOR PROTEST OF HUANG QI'S ARREST Human Rights Watch has asked businesses that are helping o develop the Internet in Communist China to protest the arrest of Huang Qi for �subversion.� HRW noted that companies from abroad working in the People's Republic of China have �a rare opportunity to help bring about his release� because he has not yet been tried. Huang's site began as a discussion site on missing persons, and became a source for news on numerous human rights abuses by the Communists that they would not reveal to their own people. His last message was the following: �The road is still long. Thank you everybody. Thanks to all who make an effort on behalf of democracy in China. They have come. Goodbye.� FIVE REPORTED INJURED IN POLICE CLASH WITH LAND SEIZURE VICTIMS IN XIAN The northwestern city of Xian witness 200 anti-riot police clash with 500 rural protestors demanding promised, but never delivered, compensation from the Communist government for the seizure of their land last year. The Information Center of Human Rights and Democracy reported five had been injured, although local police denied the claim to AFP. Neither source reported any violence caused by the protestors. ONE DISSIDENT GETS THREE YEARS HARD LABOR FOR DEMANDING RELEASE OF ANOTHER Communist China sentenced Li Guotao, one of 23 dissidents who wrote the mayor of Shanghai to ask for fellow Dai Xuewu�s release, to three years hard labor for his part in the appeal. Li Guohui, the condemned man�s brother told AFP by phone that he was charged with �disturbing social order.� AFP also reported that authorities noted that the letter caught the attention foreign media. As reported in a previous update, Dai was imprisoned for calling for the release of his brother, a founder of the China Democracy Party. RURAL WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR EMBEZZLEMENT, EIGHT EXECUTED FOR DRUGS Communist China sentences a rural woman convicted of swindling $1.2 million out of her neighbors to death earlier today. AFP reported that Xia Chenxiang convinced fellow rural residents to invest the money in a factory, promising a return of six to ten percent. Communist China routinely executes many guilty of crimes never considered capital offenses anywhere else. Eight were executed in Xingjiang/East Turkmenistan for drug smuggling, although by reports they were not presumed to be from the persecuted Uighur ethnic group. OTHER INTERNAL NEWS THREE GORGES DAM IS TOO POPULAR WITH BEIJING TO CRITICIZE, SAYS ACTIVIST Sheri Liao, head of the Global Village environmental group's office in Beijing, told Agence France Presse on Thursday that the gigantic Three Gorges Dam is so heavily supported by high-level Chinese Communists that it has become an issue �you can't mention.� Liao noted the dam is the pet project of Li Peng, orderer of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre and the current No. 2 in the Communist Chinese hierarchy. Several environmental organizations outside Beijing have slammed the project as an ecological disaster. JIANG CALLS ON COMMUNIST PARTY TO REFORM ITSELF � WITHOUT THE REFORMS In a rather unusual attempt at verbal jujitsu, Communist Chinese President Jiang Zemin called for the Communist Party to reform itself in order to survive and maintain its grip on power. However, his recommendations � eliminate corruption and live moral lives � did not include political reform or systemic change. Zhou Weiming, of the Central Party School, flatly described the purpose of Jiang's "reform" campaign, �(t)o ensure that the Communist Party stays in power.� COMMUNIST PARTY SCHOOLS EYEING BUSINESS LEADERS Communist Chinese news agency Xinhua, in a report relayed by the BBC, noted that many private business leaders in Communist China are enrolling in Communist Party schools. One leader �interviewed� by Xinhua said the school �thoroughly understand Deng Xiaoping's theory and the Party's lines in the preliminary stage of socialism [emphasis added].� Xinhua also reported many private firms have Communist Party cells in them. Whether or not this is forced upon the businessman, or a move by them to curry favor, was obviously not a question that Xinhua was inclined to ask, let alone prepared to answer. PNTR NEWS COMMUNIST CHINA BLASTS SENATOR THOMPSON FOR NON-PROLIFERTAION BILL PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao slammed U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (Republican � Tennessee) on Friday for his bill for annual review of Communist China's weapons dealings. The bill, which would cancel certain aspects of Permanent Normal Trade Relations if Communist China is found to be violating non-proliferation agreements, PRC is up for a Senate vote next week. Zhu said the bill "wantonly and slanderously attacks China." Prospects for the bill are doubtful, but it has put a crimp into plans to speedily pass PNTR in the Senate, where it is believed to have wide support. HELMS IS SURE PNTR WILL BE AMENDED IN SENATE U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee assured reporters on Tuesday that PNTR would be amended in some form before it passes the U.S. Senate. �I�m sure they�ll find one they�ll like,� he said. His response to a question of whether he�ll cooperate with pro-PNTR forces, including the leadership of both major parties, on the measure was blunt: �Dream on.� INTERNATIONAL AND AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS PAKISTAN GETTING HELP WITH ITS MISSILE PROGRAM FROM COMMUNIST CHINA Reports in the Far Eastern Economic Review, The New York Times, and the Washington Post all say Communist China had resumed aiding it in the construction of M-11 missile plant. American intelligence officials have cited the M-11 program as the clearest evidence to date that Communist China has violated its pledge to stop aiding Pakistan's military. Both the Post and the Times noted reports of Communist China helping Pakistan with technical expertise and missile parts. Both Pakistan and Communist China denied the reports. The Times also reported that the issue could imperil passage of PNTR (see above for PNTR news). XINHUA NEWS AGENCY TO SELL BUILDING NEAR PENTAGON AFTER CRITICISM The Communist Chinese news agency Xinhua has decided to sell the building overlooking the Pentagon that it recently purchased after numerous Congressmen and others expressed concern over the PRC using the building to spy on the American military. The agency informed the U.S. State Department on Friday that it would not use the building before it was sold. As reported in previous updates, Xinhua's history of lending its resources, including employees, to Communist Chinese spy agencies concerned many policy makers. PHALCON FLAP MAY BE ADDRESSED IN MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT, AIDE BACKS NIXING DEAL On Wednesday President Clinton proposed a summit for next week among himself, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat. Late last week, however, Middle East News Line reported that Barak and Clinton would meet to attempt to solve a growing controversy over the sale of a PHALCON air-radar system by Israel to Communist China. Whether PHALCON would be discussed between Clinton and Barak next week or during a later summit without Arafat was unclear. Meanwhile, a high-level aid to Barak said on Isreali public radio that he felt the sale should be cancelled to avoid antagonizing the U.S. Many fear the radar system could help tip the balance of power between the PRC and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Representative David Obey of Wisconsin, the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, went so far as to declare, �If that sale goes through I have no intention of supporting further aid to Israel.� The Middle East News Line report came courtesy of Ron Vogel, one of our members. COMMUNIST CHINA USING U.S. SUPER COMPUTERS ILLEGALLY FOR NUCLEAR TESTS The Washington Times reported last week that Communist China is illegally using American exported supercomputer to simulate nuclear explosions. According to Times reporter Bill Gertz, the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, the PRC's version of Los Alamos, is using the computers for nuclear testing without having to physically explode the warheads. Such a use would be in violation of export laws regarding the sale of high-speed super computers to Communist China, which must be used only for civilian purposes. It would be the third such illegal military use in three years. News of the illegal conversion comes as the Administration is hoping to greatly relax rules on exporting high-speed technology. LIBYA AND COMMUNIST CHINA CONTINUE COOPERATION ON LONG RANGE MISSLES The Washington Times reported of Friday that America intelligence has uncovered new evidence of Communist China providing aid and comfort to Libya's long-range missile program. According to the report, Libya's Al-Fatah missile program chief is planning a trip to Communist China to visit the University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Beijing, China's premier training center for missile scientists and technicians. They also report that the PRC is already training Libyan missile specialists there. RUSSIA TO BUILD DESTROYERS FOR COMMUNIST CHINESE NAVY According to the BBC, Russia has extended its contract with Communist China for the construction and sale of 956E-class destroyers. The PRC received the first 956E last December, and the second will be delivered in five months. The extension of the �intergovernmental agreement� will ensure two more 956E-class destroyers for Communist China, courtesy of Russia. Russia has become a major supplier for the PRC's navy, including to Sovremmeny-class submarines and up to 96 anti-ship missiles for the submarines. TAIWAN NEWS CHEN INSISTS ROC WILL NEVER ACCEPT COMMUNISTS IN CHARGE OF �ONE CHINA� On Friday, Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), flatly rejected the PRC demands that he accept the Communist definition of �one China� � mainly that Taiwan must accept Communist control in some form. �The people of Taiwan cannot accept that �one China� means the People's Republic of China,� Chen insisted. �Still less can they accept that Taiwan is a part of the People's Republic of China.� In 1992, both sides agreed that there was only one China, but that what this �one China� is was open for debate. Taiwan has called the agreement �one China, several interpretations,� and Chen has said it was acceptable. Beijing, however, has insisted that Taiwan accept Beijing�s definition before cross-straits talks can begin. DPP CHIEF INVITES MAYOR OF XIAMEN TO TAIWAN, RECIPROCAL INVITE DENIED BY CITY Authorities in the city of Xiamen, directly oppose the Taiwan Straits from the ROC, disputed comments by Frank Hsieh, chairman-desingate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, that he had been invited to meet the city�s mayor. Hsieh announced on Tuesday that he had accepted the invitation. Xiamen did say the mayor was reviewing Hsieh�s invitation to him to visit Taiwan. Many had hoped that �city diplomacy� could help thaw the icy relations between the PRC and Taiwan. OTHER TAIWAN NEWS The ROC defense ministry reported that Communist China had conducted more live-fire drills in Fujian province. The ministry gave no details about the test, which is the fourth such test in recent months. President Chen issued a stern warning about Communist China�s increasing military might, saying �its attempt to attack Taiwan is more obvious than in the past.� The Pentagon has also noted Communist China�s build-up and modernization is preparation for a possible Taiwan invasion that would involve a high-tech conflict with the United States. Also, Pan His-hsien, who visited mainland China on a private business trip after retiring from ROC intelligence, was arrested by the Communists. ROC National Security Bureau Chief Ting Yu-chou called for his release at a press conference, threatening �grave and serious� effects if his imprisonment continued. HONG KONG NEWS HONG KONG TURNOVER ANNIVERSARY MARKED BY ANTICOMMUNIST RPOTEST On Saturday, the three year anniversary of Hong Kong's turnover to Communist China, 1,000 resident marched to protest the actions of Chief Executive Tung Chee-wha and to demand he step down. About 30 organizations, including the opposition Democratic party, helped organize the march. Democratic member Yeung Sum commented that �the administration has turned Hong Kong into a city of protests,� sentiments also reported from Hong Kong in our last update. JUDGES ERUPT IN ANGER AT COMMUNIST CHINESE COUNSEL ON RIGHT-OF-ABODE CASE Hong Kong judges, infuriated at Communist China�s thinly veiled attempts to end-run the Basic Law, excoriated Joseph Fok, Beijing�s counsel, for suggesting they follow the national government�s lead on a high-profile �right-of-abode� case. Beijing has attempted to re-interpret the Basic Law�s clause to force Hong-Kong born residents into mainland China if their parents were not �settled� when they were born. Many are concerned Beijing is undermining the Basic Law, which guarantees many freedoms inherited from colonial rule by the United Kingdom. The judges were particularly incensed at Sok�s recommendation, saying it would wipe out local judicial autonomy, a key element in the Basic Law. HONG KONG RESIDENTS GIVE POOR MARKS TO COMMUNIST REGIME Opposition to Tung, appointed by a Communist-controlled committee with no input from the city's 6.8 million inhabitants, is widespread. A poll commissioned by the Democratic Party revealed that 60 percent of respondents believe the British colonial government was better than Tung's regime; only 9 percent thought Tung's administration was better. A majority said Tung should not be re-appointed to a second term. LEFTIST ANTI-BEIJING STREET PROTESTOR MAY RUN FOR HONG KONG LEGISLATURE Leung Kwok-hung, a left-wing street protestor, is considering a run for the Hong Kong legislature. The long-time protestor said he would �be silly not to use� the chance for a higher profile for his campaign against the appointed Tung government, which he says serves only �Beijing and the tycoons.� Despite being an open Marxist, Lueng has been the victim of rumors that he is paid by the CIA to stir up trouble for Tung�s regime. MACAU NEWS TEAR GAS AN WATER CANNONS DISPERSE LABOR PROTEST The ex-Portugese district of Macau, which had been enthusiastic about Communist China�s takeover last year, has seen the first use of tear gas since the �Cultural Revolution.� Police use the tear gas and water cannon to disperse 200 protestors staging a sit-in against the government�s foreign labor policy. The Macau administration, appointed wholly by Beijing, had pledged to change the policy, which it inherited from the Portugese. The reversal by the government has angered many unemployed residents of the former colony. TIBET NEWS TENS OF THOUSANDS COME TO HEAR DALAI LAMA IN WASHINGTON Roughly 50,000 gathered in Washington on Sunday to hear the Dalai Lama during the Smithsonian cultural festival. Although he made no political references in his hour-long address, most agree that his presence alone did much to publicize the plight of the Tibetan people under Communist rule. PROTESTOR CALL FOR WORLD BANK TO CANCEL LOAN TO COMMUNIST CHINA About 100 protesters gathered outside the World Bank building in Washington Saturday to call for the cancellation of loan to Communist China that would forcibly relocate 58,000 people into Tibet, and cause serious ecological damage to the region. A committee created by the bank to examine the project has heavily panned it. The committee's comments, reported in the last update, included evidence that the World Bank violated its own rules in assessing the cultural and environmental impact of the loan. Many member countries opposed the loan, which will be up for discussion again later this week. COMMUNIST CHINA TAKES ACTION AGAINST TIBETAN LAMA � TWO YEARS AFTER HE DEFECTED The PRC officially removed the Agya Rinpoche, one of the eight Tibetan Lamas, from his position in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a sort of lower parliamentary house, according to Agence France Presse. Rinpoche retained his position until last week despite defecting to the United States in 1998. The Lama's defection has never been reported by the embarrassed Communists, although word of his defection spread across the county in November 1998. CORRECTION In previous updates, the PHALCON air-radar system Israel plans to sell to Communist China has been misnamed PHACION, apologies for any inconvenience the mistake has caused. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in receiving this. 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