************************************************************** IFCSS Headquarters News Release No.5003 July 9, 1993 ************************************************************** Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS) 733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005 Tel. (202)347-0017 Fax: (202)347-0018 Email: ifcss@wam.umd.edu The IFCSS 5th Congress Resolutions ================================== On July 4, 1993, the 5th Congress reviewed and debated 13 resolution proposals. The following seven resolutions were formally adopted by the 5th Congress. 1. Resolution 503: On Urging the New Board of Directors to Take Charge of the Amendment of the IFCSS Constitution Promotor: Zhang Yunhan Content: This Congress urges the 5th Board of Directors to take the responsibility for proposing to the 6th Congress "the Draft Amendment to Organizational Regulations in the IFCSS Constitution", and resolves that i) the Board of directors proposes the draft 15 days prior to the 6th Congress, and ii) "vertical" structure of the organization be set up in principle and whereby enabling local CSS organizations and the IFCSS to coordinate. The major technical goal is to add to Article 1 of the draft. The long term goal is to solve problems in IFCSS's organizational continuation and development. 2. Resolution 504: On Working to Gain Protection for those CSS who arrived in the U.S. after April 11, 1990. Promoter: Wang Jing and Zhang Xiaogang Content: Many of the Chinese students who came after April 11, 1993 were the active participators of the "June Fourth" Movement. Before coming to the U.S., many more were harassed for political reasons during their application processes. We consider that it is improper to use the arriving date of April 11, 1993 as the sole criteria to delineate the Chinese government's persecution and threat to the participators of the democratic movement. Therefore, until the Chinese government significantly improved its human right conditions, the IFCSS should continue to carry out its responsibility for obtaining protection for all participators of democratic movement. 3. Resolution 505: On Saluting Kang Yuan (John Kamn) for his Effort at Improving Human Rights in China. Promoter: Wang Ji and Deng Yanpei Content: Since June 1989, Mr. John Kamn devoted himself to rescuing the democratic participators. His efforts included negotiating with the Chinese government officials and informing the latter of the demand by the overseas Chinese community and western governments, and had led to definite results in these matters. He effectively secured the release of some democratic activists and improvement of prison conditions for others. He also played an important role in making the world aware of the human right problems in China, and in setting up channels for bringing this concern to the attention of the Chinese government. Mr. Kamn's effort has won praise worldwide, and is supported by Chinese democratic organizations and overseas Chinese community. Mr. Kamn has maintained a good working relationship with the IFCSS, and shows great interest in the IFCSS's activities in this aspect. To express our appreciation for Mr. Kamn's effort and achievement, and to encourage worldwide concern of China's human right condition, the 5th Congress has set up a special "Human Right Award", and thereby resole that Mr. John Kamn be endowed the "Award". 4. Resolution 508: On Improving the Communication between the Board Members and Local CSS Organizations. Promoter: Chen Dong and Zhang Kaichang Content: Considering that the Board of Directors is the legislative body of the IFCSS while its members are elected representatives of their respective electoral regions, and considering the weak relationship between the IFCSS and its member organizations and CSS, the 5th Congress resolves that each Board member should contact at least half of the local organizations in the region before each session of the Board's seasonal conference, and that they should investigate the opinions and wishes of ordinary CSS and report such to the Board conference. 5. Resolution 509: On Proposing to Set up "China's Human Right Day". Promoter: Yu Weiping Content: Considering that June 4th Movement was the biggest event in China's history concerning human rights, and to upgrade our commemorative activities into events of promoting China's human rights and democracy, the 5th Congress resolves that June 4th be "China's Human Right Day", and thereby promotes "China's Human Rights Day" event worldwide. 6. Resolution 512: On Establishing the Information Center for Exchange Activities with China, Promoter: Wang Yanbin and Dong Liqun Content: One of the IFCSS's three principles is to "promote China's scientific, cultural and economic development". However, over the past four years, the IFCSS's exchange activities with China had not got off the ground due to both unfavorable objective conditions and subjective negligence. Since early 1992, some changes have taken place in China's political and economic situations, and conditions for such exchange activities have improved over all. The IFCSS, while continuing to promote human rights and democracy, should seize the opportunity to upgrade its exchange activities with China, thereby promoting China's scientific, cultural and economic progress. To achieve this, the 5th Congress resolves that a task force be established responsible to the Board of Directors, and that the promoters of the resolution propose a detailed plan to the Board. 7. Resolution 513: On Telegraphing and Saluting to Liu Gang and other Political Prisoners Promoter: Wang Yaxin Content: The 5th Congress of the IFCSS resolves to telegraph and solute Liu and other political prisoners and their relatives. The 5th Congress strongly demands that the Chinese government improve the living conditions of these political prisoners. ********************************************************************* * IFCSS Headquarters Office * *-------------------------------------------------------------------* * President: Lin Changsheng Vice President: Shi Heping * *-------------------------------------------------------------------* * PBS-L is IFCSS's news distribution list for individuals. To sign * * on or off from the list, please send email to listserv@ifcss.org * * leave the subject line open and put in the mail body: * * (For signing on) sub PBS-L last name first name * * (For signing off) unsub PBS-L last name first name * * For more information about IFCSS, write to ifcss-info@ifcss.org * *********************************************************************