NJ Congressman Smith to attend Noble Prize Ceremony

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ4) and outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi have announced that they plan to attend the ceremony awarding the Nobel Prize to Chinese human rights activist/prisoner of conscience Liu Xiaobo.

Support NJ Representative Chris Smith’s Global Online Freedom of Information Act

I wanted to draw your attention to an action that listed in the May 2008 issue of Connect: supporting the Global Online Freedom Act of 2007. This legislation—which was introduced by New Jersey’s Chris Smith—would prevent U.S. internet companies from cooperating with repressive governments in their efforts to stifle freedom of expression.

Unfortunately, the need for this legislation is clearly demonstrated by the case of Shi Tao, a journalist who was sentenced to ten years after Yahoo! provided his identity to the Chinese government.

Please call the office of your House member and urge him to support H.R. 275, the Global Online Freedom Act of 2007. You can find the name and contact information for your House member by entering your zip code at www.house.gov.

Amnesty has also set up an online action on this issue.

Support Freedom of Expression in China!

There is an online action to support Shi Tao, a Chinese journalist who is in prison for the “crime” of sending e-mail messages to a pro-democracy website in the United States. All you need to do is enter your contact information and Amnesty will send an e-mail message urging your Congressman to sign a letter urging U.S. Secretary of State Rice to take action on this case and other violations of the right to freedom of expression in China.

Press Release on China & Darfur from Sentaor Menendez

You can find out more about Senator Menendez's statements yesterday by reading CONGRESSIONAL PROPOSAL TO OFFICIALLY PRESSURE CHINA ON GENOCIDE IN DARFUR at his website. [Note: Amnesty International has not taken a position on whether or not the ongoing atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide. Whether or not they constitute genocide, the ongoing war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law must stop immediately.]

The release also contains statements by NJ Representative Chris Smith, who is introducing a resolution on this issue in the House. There are links to the text of both the Senate and House resolution, as well as video of Senator Menendez's statements before the Senate.

NJ Senator Menendez Calls Upon China to Take Further Action on Darfur

I have heard that NJ Senator Robert E. Menendez has just made some very strong statements calling on China to help end the ongoing attrocities in Darfur. As you know, Amnesty recently completed a nationwide campaign to support congressional letters urging Chinese President Hu to help pursuade Sudanese President Al-Bashir to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. It is great to conitnue to see New Jersey politicians taking leadersip on this important issue!

Please see Menendez to introduce Darfur measure from Gannette for further information.

Further Impact of Darfur Letters!

See China names special envoy for Darfur for more information about the impact of the congressional letters we supported! Once again, thanks to everyone who helped get 8 of NJ Congressmen and both of our Senators to sign these letter!

China Reacts to Congressional Letters on Darfur

You can read news coverage of the congressional letters to urging China to convince Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur.

China's reaction shows how important our work on this initiative has been. While the Chinese government continues to try to deny its damaging role in the Darfur crisis, the fact is that it has taken positive steps only in response to international pressure--including anticipation of these letters! Also, the fact the Chinese government is concerned enough to put out this PR campaign shows that it is in fact concerned about its image.

8 out of 13 NJ Congressmen Sign the Lantos-Smith-Payne-Wolfe Letter on Darfur

The following NJ Congressmen signed the letter calling upon Chinese President Hu to help convince the Sudanese government to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur:

Robert Andrews (1st District)
Jim Saxton (3rd District)
Chris Smith (4th District)
Scott Garret (5th District)
Bill Pascrell (8th District)
Donald Payne (9th District)
Rush Holt (10th District)
Albio Sires (13th District)

That’s 61.5%! Nationally,103 out 435 House members (23.7%) signed on. New Jersey is well above average! Our state also has the honor of being represented by two of the four authors, Chris Smith and Donald Payne.

Amnesty is very grateful to all members of both chambers that signed these important letters, as well as everyone who contacted Congress about this issue.

Darfur House Letter Update

So far, I know that NJ Representatives Holt, Pascrell, and Sires have indicated that they will sign the letter urging China to help convince Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. Counting Congressmen Payne and Smith--who are circulating the letter--that means at least five of our state's House members are onboard.

If you add in our Senators, who have both signed the corresponding letter in their chamber, at least seven out of fifteen total members of New Jersey's congressional delegation have helped out so far!

NJ Reps Smith & Payne Join Lantos & Wolfe to Introduce House Letter on Darfur!

The House letter urging China to help convince President Al-Bashir to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur is now being circulated. We have previously referred to this as the Lantos letter. Those of us in New Jersey can now proudly call it the Lantos-Smith-Payne-Wolfe letter! Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ4), Donald Payne (NJ10), and Frank Wolfe (VA10) have joined Tom Lantos of California in introducing this important letter!

If you have not already done so, please contact your member of the House and ask him to sign the Lantos-Smith-Payne-Wolfe letter!

Darfur Letter Update / Amnesty Report on China

As of Friday, 96 members of the Senate have agreed to sign the Biden-Lugar letter urging China to help convince the Sudanese government to allow peacekeepers into Darfur! As previously mentioned, NJ Senators Lautenberg and Menendez have already agreed to sign on.

There has been some delay in circulating the corresponding letter in the House of Representatives. As you know, however, hundreds activists around the country have already urged their congressmen to sign it. I will post any information I receive about the status of the this letter.

Amnesty International continues to be very concerned about human rights problems within China. The London office has just released a report documenting the Chinese government’s failure to fulfill its promises to improve conditions in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics.