Subject: CND-US Special Issue on IFCSS 5th Congress (III), July 3, 1993

From: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 1993 23:30:36 PDT

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+   C h i n a   N e w s   D i g e s t  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                               (US Regional)

                  Special Issue on IFCSS 5th Congress (III)

                           Saturday, July 3, 1993

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| CND-US, normally 1 or 2 issues a week, is a supplement to CND-Global and |
| has  basically no overlap with the daily news.  CND-US provides in-depth |
| information concerning Chinese students/scholars in the United States.   |
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Table of Contents                                                 # of Lines
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1. IFCSS Holds Fifth Congress in Lexington, Kentucky .................... 44
2. Senate Floor Statement by Senator Slade Gorton
                   Made on Implementation Date of the CSPA .............. 78
3. IFCSS News Release:
         IFCSS 5th Congress Held Opening Ceremony ...................... 103
============================================================================

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1. IFCSS Holds Fifth Congress in Lexington, Kentucky .................... 44
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Written by: Shuping Lu, CND Staff Reporter
Source: CND, 7/2/93

LEXINGTON, Kentucky -- The Fifth Congress of the Independent Federation of
Chinese Students and Scholars in the US (IFCSS) began its three-day agenda
this morning at the University of Kentucky, located in the town with the
same name as Lexington, Massachusetts, where America's Independent War
started more than 200 years ago.

At the opening, all stood up mourning in silence for the June 4th victims,
which has been an annual tradition for the IFCSS since 1989.

Mr. Xiao Geng, current president of the IFCSS, emphasized that his
organization, said to represent the interests of Chinese students and
scholars, was continuing to pursue independence, freedom and moral values.

Delegates from eighty-seven universities and other academic institutions
across the United States, including some from as far as Hawaii and Alaska,
and around 100 observers attended the meeting.  Also present at the opening
ceremony were special guests Professor Lizhi Fang, Professor Luoji Guo, Mr.
Boli Zhang, Vice President of Min-Lian-Zhen (The Alliance for a Democratic
China) and new editor-in-chief of its magazine China Spring, Jieming Chen,
President of World Taiwanese Student Association, and three Congressional
staff from Washington D.C.  Mr. Qing Liu of the New York-based Human Rights
in China arrived later, short of giving a scheduled address.

"Although the democracy movement is at a low point," Professor Fang spoke in
a confident tone, "the movement of human rights is being advanced."  Mr.
Stephen Nelson, an assistant to Senator Slade Gorton, read part of the
speech regarding the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 (CSPA) given by
the senator yesterday on the floor of the U.S.  Senate, when the CPC was
celebrating its 72th birthday. [Editor: See second item of this issue.]
Senator Gorton is known for his work of introducing the CSPA bill and
pushing it through.  Other guests also gave addresses and wished the
congress a success.

Current officers of the IFCSS reported their work of last year and answered
questions by the delegates.  Some revisions on the constitution and by-law
were introduced for discussion. Three candidates are compaigning for the
presidency of the IFCSS, they are Changsheng Lin, Yungui Ding and Jinghong
Li. [Editor: the platform of the latter two have been published in CND-US
Special Issues I and II on the IFCSS Fifth Congress, dated June 26 and
June 30, 1993. CND, as a new media independent from any organization, will
bring readers reports about the election.]

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2. Senate Floor Statement by Senator Slade Gorton
                   Made on Implementation Date of the CSPA .............. 78
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Forwarded by: Shuping Lu
Date: 7/1/93

Mr. President -- Today is July 1st, three days before we celebrate the
anniversary of our nation's independence. To most of us, July 1st is not a
day of particular significance. But to 80,000 Chinese Nationals residing in
the United States, July 1st 1993 will be one of the most important days of
their lives.  Today the Immigration and Naturalization Services begins
accepting and processing applications for permanent residency under the
Chinese Student Protection Act, a bill that I introduced and saw signed into
law during the 102nd Congress.

These Chinese students and scholars are the legacy of the most brutal
tragedy in China's struggle for self determination -- the 1989 massacre in
Tiananmen square.  Like you and I, they watched in horror as unarmed
protectors for democracy were ruthlessly slaughtered.  But to the Chinese
students, the victims on television and on the front pages of the newspapers
were not nameless victims, they were friends, cousins, sisters and brothers.
And as they watched, the horror of this scene was heightened by the
knowledge that soon they would be forced to return to China.

There was some consolation for these students when Presudent Bush issued an
executive order allowing the Chinese to remain in America until January 1st
of 1994.  But knowing that the executive order would inevitably expire, these
Chinese students and scholars lived under a gnawing cloud of fear.

Mr. President, July 1st, 1993 is the day that cloud has been lifted.  Today
is a day of both celebration, and sadness, for the Chinese who can remain in
the United States.  The implementation of the Chinese Student Protection Act
was contingent on the President not declaring the People's Republic of China
safe for return.  As of today, no such declaration has been issued.  While
the 80,000 Chinese students in the United States no longer fear a dangerous
return to their native land, it remains a day of sadness for their country.

Despite booming economic growth, despite international condemnation and now,
despite the very real possibility that China will lose 80,000 of its best
and brightest students, the Republic of China continues to compile an
abominable record on human rights.  Promises from the government of the PRC
to improve human rights seem to remain unfulfilled and without credibility.

If the students elect to remain in the Unuted States, we will be the better
for it.  They are superbly educated, motivated and ready to work for this
nation.  They possess a keen understanding of the American dream.  These
students will not be taking jobs from Americans, they will be creating new
jobs, spawning new industries and contributing to the American economy.

Ultimately, however, the purpose of the Chinese Student Protection Act is
not for the students to stay but for them to return home to a China freed
from its oppressive communist regime.  The Chinese Student Protection Act
will help ensure that the words and actions of the Chinese government are
more than a feather in the wind, and are instead, words which we they can
count on.

If China is to move into the 21st Century with the rest of the world, they
will need the assistance of these young people.

Mr. President, the interim regulations for the Chinese Student Protection
Act which go into effect today are, like most regulations, inperfect.  Many
of the students who qualify for protection under Act have dependents here or
in China who do not qualify for the same protection.  Further, the
accounting mechanism which allow as many as 80,000 Chinese Naitonals to
adjust their status without significantly delaying the status of other
immigrants who have been waiting, has not been completely worked out.  I've
expressed my concerns to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in a
letter last week and the INS has promised to work with Congress and Chinese
students to produce an administrative solution to these problems.

Despite the remaining questions, today is a day of hope -- hope of a new
life of freedom in the United States for Chinese students who otherwise
would have been eligible for deportation on January 1st, hope that someday
the students who choose to remain in the United States will return to a
prosperous and democratic China, and above all hope that such legislation
will never again be necessary.

Today, Mr. President, let us celebrate the blessings of liberty and dreams
of freedom embodied in the Chinese Student Protection Act; the same dreams
which have withstood the bloody tanks at Tiananmen Square, the dreams which
inspire the world; the dream that still is America.

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3. IFCSS News Release:
         IFCSS 5TH CONGRESS HELD OPENING CEREMONY ...................... 103
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>From: IFCSS HQ <[email-masked]>
Date: 7/2/93

**********************************************************************
IFCSS 5Da Task Force,    News Release No. 08              July 2, 1993

            IFCSS 5TH CONGRESS HELD OPENING CEREMONY
**********************************************************************
Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars in USA (IFCSS)
               5th Congress Preparation Task Force
               Email: [email-masked]
           Tel:  606-258-6556     Fax:  606-258-4423

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12:30 pm, EDT
Lexington, Kentucky

        IFCSS Opened 5th Congress at Lexington, Kentucky
        ================================================

     On the Independence Day weekend and in the historical city of
Lexington, Kentucky, the opening of the IFCSS 5th Congress was a good
reminder of the spirit of the American War of Independence -- the
aspirations for freedom, the consciousness of one's dignity and rights, and
the persistent pursuit of happiness and ideal. That was the common theme in
the remarks of several keynote speakers in the Congress's opening ceremony
held this morning in the Agricultural Auditorium of the University of
Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.

     Around 200 delegates, observers and guests participated in the opening
ceremony which began at 9:30 am, EDT. Mr. Baoping He, the Vice-president of
IFCSS, announced the beginning of the Congress and the delegates held a one
minute silence to mourn those who gave up their lives in the '89 democracy
movement. IFCSS President Geng Xiao delivered the opening remarks. He
pointed it out that it was in Lexington the first shot of the Independence
War was fired and it was in the same city the first independent Chinese
student organization emerged six years ago (the University of Kentucky
Chinese Student Solidarity Union). In that light, the 5th IFCSS Congress was
meaningful.

     Sitting on the Presidium are guests invited by the Congress.  They are:
Mr. Steven Nelson, Assistant to U.S. Senator Slade Gorton; Mitchele Chin,
Assistant to Congressman Joe Barton; Kevin Atkins, Assistant to U.S. Senator
from Kentucky McConnell (whose wife Zhao Xiaolan is a well-known Chinese
American); Professor Fang Lizhi; Mr. Zhang Boli, one of the exiled Tiananmen
student leaders and now the Vice-president of ADC; Ms. Chen Jiemin,
President of the Taiwan Student Union, and also Ms. Carolyn Hollins and Mr.
Brad Traineor from the International Student Office of the University of
Kentucky.

     Ms. Hollins welcomed the delegates on behalf of the University of
Kentucky. She said that from IFCSS email news releases she has become
familiar with IFCSS and she is very impressed by the ability and
achievements of IFCSS. Mr. Atkins read a congratulation letter written by
Senator McConnell in which he highly praised the efforts of IFCSS in
promoting China's human rights. Ms. Chin congratulated the Congress on
behalf of Congressman Barton. She pointed out that the efforts and success
of IFCSS rekindled the Americans of the spirit of the Independence War. Mr.
Nelson pointed out that the CSPA has taken effect and the Chinese students
covered by the Act will be free from persecution. He read a letter from
Senator Gorton to President Clinton in which he explained the purpose and
significance of the Chinese Student Protection Act.

     Professor Fang Lizhi, the well-known astrophysicist and dissident is
attending IFCSS congress for the second time. He urged the Chinese students
to not only seek the advancement of professional career but also be aware of
and fulfill social responsibilities. Mr. Zhang Boli commended the work of
IFCSS. He was also impressed by IFCSS's smooth transition of power. Ms. Chen
Jiemin told the delegates that the Taiwan Student Union has had a good
working relationship with IFCSS in the past four years and the two
organizations should continue to cooperate in the future.

     Another scheduled speaker, Mr. Liu Qing, President of the Human Rights
in China (New York), arrived after the ceremony and his speech will be
re-arranged.

     The Congress also received congratulation letters from the National
Union of Chinese Students and Scholars in Australia, the California Chinese
Civil Engineers' Association, and Mr. Chen Yizhi, President of the Center
for Modern China.

     After the opening ceremony, the Congress entered the Report and
Question session. President Geng Xiao, Council Chairman Li Jinghong and
Supervisory Committee Coordinator Luo Lishi reported the work of HQ, Council
and SVC respectively. The reports were followed by a thirty minute Q&A
session. The recurrent applause showed the delegates' approval of the work
and achievements of this term.

     The afternoon session is devoted to the consideration of amendments to
IFCSS Constitution.

     107 CSS organizations registered for the Congress. By this morning,
delegates from 87 organizations have arrived. Many are believed still on
their way to Lexington considering the fact that the CSPA filing process
just started 2-3 days ago.

     The first issue of the 5th Congress Bulletin has been distributed to
the delegates. It has ten pages. The campaign platforms of three
Presidential candidates, Lin Changsheng, Ding Yungui and Li Jinghong were
published. We are exploring the possibility to send the Bulletin through
email.

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|                    Editor of This Issue: Wei Lin                         |
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