Article from "The Epoch Times": Human Rights Watchdog Finds No Improvement in China

According to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China's 2003 Annual Report, human rights in China have not improved over the past year.

Noting that "Chinese citizens are detained and imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and belief," the report criticizes the Chinese government, because it "continues to violate China's constitution and laws and international norms and standards protecting human rights."

The 114-page report documents areas in need of improvement, including workers rights, and the government's absolute control of the media. It also highlights the continued repression of religious and spiritual freedom. "Chinese Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Buddhists seeking to practice their faith outside officially-sanctioned churches, mosques, and temples are subject to harassment and repression. Government authorities continue to repress spiritual groups, including the Falun Gong spiritual movement..."

Created by the U.S. Congress in 2000, the bipartisan Commission was established to monitor human rights in China. It includes nine Senators, nine House members and five senior Administration officials appointed by President Bush. Each year, the Commission submits reports on China's human rights situation to the President and Congress.

The report urges U.S. officials to hold China to "significant and far-reaching commitments" it made during the December 2002 U.S.-China human rights dialogue and to reschedule a promised visit by the U.S. International Commission on Religious Freedom and the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance.

http://english.epochtimes.com/news/3-10-6/9053.html