Received: from ATHENA.MIT.EDU by po6.MIT.EDU (5.61/4.7) id AA23162; Fri, 24 Jul 92 01:17:14 -0400 Received: from kentvm.kent.edu by Athena.MIT.EDU with SMTP id AA11905; Fri, 24 Jul 92 01:16:35 EDT Message-Id: <9207240516.AA11905@Athena.MIT.EDU> Received: from KENTVM.BITNET by Kentvm.Kent.edu (IBM VM SMTP R1.2.2MX) with BSMTP id 6627; Fri, 24 Jul 92 01:00:35 EDT Received: from KENTVM.BITNET by KENTVM.BITNET (Mailer R2.08) with BSMTP id 4266; Fri, 24 Jul 92 01:00:25 EDT Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 00:36:51 -0400 Reply-To: CND-US%DJOHN-SUN.KENT.EDU@Kentvm.Kent.edu Sender: "China News Digest (US News)" From: cnd-us%djohn-sun.kent.edu@Kentvm.Kent.edu Subject: CND-US, July 24, 1992 Comments: To: china-nd@kentvm.kent.edu To: Multiple recipients of list CHINA-ND +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ C h i n a N e w s D i g e s t +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ (US Regional) Friday, July 24, 1992 +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Table of Contents # of Lines ============================================================================ 1. New Brief (Three Items) ...............................................38 2. IFCSS President to Organize Task Force for Protection Bill Lobby ..... 49 3. Opportunity Knocks But Once: Immigration Bill in Troubles.............132 4. An Appeal from Minnesota Lobby Group.................................. 62 5. Reader Responses on Wedding Announcement in CND ...................... 34 ============================================================================ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. New Brief (Three Items) ...............................................38 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEIJING -(AP-DJ, 7-23)--China is helping Burma renovate a section of the Stilwell Road, named after the commander of the China-Burma-India theater during World War II, an official report said Thursday. The road, named after General Joseph Stilwell, was built in 1942-1945, after Japanese troops captured Rangoon and cut off the Burma Road. The road was deserted after the war. But in 1985, Yunnan fixed up a section of it between the border and the town of Tengchong to facilitate border trade, Xinhua said. This spring, the two counties on either side of the border restored a 54-kilometer section of the road in Burma, it said. As a result of the renovation, border trade has increased 400 times, reaching 1.6 bil- lion yuan compared with 40 million yuan in 1984, the report said. (from Liu Jian) === === === === === === === === IFCSS introduces the IFCSS-Sprint long distance program to IFCSS members. It hopes local CSS organizations and activists will join to promote this program which was written exclusively for IFCSS members and will provide many benefits available only for IFCSS members. Through the sales to IFCSS members, IFCSS will get a certain amount of commission which would help IFCSS achieve financial independence and provide other kinds of service to the CSS communities. Part of the commission will be alloted to local CSS organizations. For program brochures or order now, please call 1-800-669-8585. or fax to Al Lenio at 913-624-5640. (Existing Sprint customers call 1-800-877- 4040). For question and application form, please call Ms. Suzie Scheer at (913)624-4493 or call IFCSS HQ. (from IFCSS HQ , Special Report No. 4007, 7-21) === === === === === === === === Marquette Univ. CSA posted a open letter to sincerely thank those who made efforts to help save the life of Shao Hui. Many people had their blood tested so that they might donate their bone marrows for him. Blood of numerous people flew into his body and helped sustain his life. Many doctors and nurses demonstrated their superb medical skills and looked after him day and night. Many long and short distance calls transmitted to him greetings and comfort. Abundant books, audio and video cassettes formed strong spiritual support for him. Among the money, gifts, and cards sent to him that carried great human love. (Refer to earlier CND-US about the call for marrow dona- tion and Mr. Shao final death). (from: 5907anh@vms.csd.mu.edu, 7-21) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. IFCSS President to Organize Task Force for Protection Bill Lobby ..... 49 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: IFCSS HQ, Source: IFCSS Headquarters Special Report No. 4011, July 23, 1992 Dear IFCSS Members: I, the President of IFCSS, is organizing a nationwide Chinese Students and Scholars (CSS) Protection Bill Lobby Task Force, according to IFCSS Council Emergency Resolution CR4002. An separate special banking account for CSS Protection Bill Lobby has been set up. Specific actions are: 1. The IFCSS HQ, with help from Mr. Ding Jian, has set up an email network for all concerned individuals and organizations to participate and communicate. To join the network, please send names, school and email addresses to: lobby-request@library.uta.edu 2. A nationwide state-coordinator system will be set up. I will be the national coordinator. A tele-conference will be called within one week to formally establish this system. 3. Sample letters and Talking points for lobby efforts are under preparation. 4. The special banking account for donations has been set up. All donations should be directly sent to: (see note ) IFCSS CSS-Protection Account Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS) 733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005 All donation money will be saved in this account. Its management board will consist the IFCSS HQ treasurer, the Chair of Council Finance Committee and the Chair of the IFCSS Students Affair Working Committee. Dear friends, we have to fight for our own rights. We have to be united to help ourselves. Please join the IFCSS, now. Thank you very much for your attention. Sincerely, Geng, Xiao (signed) President of IFCSS July 23, 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Opportunity Knocks But Once: Immigration Bill in Troubles.............132 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Haiching Zhao, Incumbent President of IFCSS,, 7-22 We had a hectic day at the Capitol Hill today. We organized a coalition meeting with other 25 organizations to set up the strategy for the collec- tive MFN-lobby effort in the Senate for the next couple of weeks. The key to the MFN lobby is in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who is also the major author of the bill in the Senate, is strongly commit- ted to the passage of the bill. The bill does have strong bipartisan sup- port in the Senate, as was demonstrated in the House by yesterday's vote in the House. Hopefully the Senate will take up the issue before the summer recess. The House Judiciary Committee took up our immigration bill at 10:00 in the morning. One amendment proposed by the Justice Department (INS) was attached to the bill. It is a technical amendment. However, since we are trying to keep our bill out of the conference, the fewer differences between the Senate and the House versions, the better. And this amendment means that the bill can not go to the President directly, rather it has to be sent back to the Senate again for a vote. The real problem on the bill is the attempt made by Michigan Congressman John Conyers Jr. He attempted to attach an amendment on protecting Haitians in this country. Congressman Bill McCollum of Florida challenged the amendment by questioning its germaneness to our bill. There was a heavy debate on this issue and we all know that by attaching this provision the bill would be certainly vetoed by the President. Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Jack Brooks of Texas ruled that the amendment was NOT german. So we are safe for now. However, we are almost certain this will surface again when the bill reaches the House floor and in the Senate. Haitian refugee issue is a very tough one. We are sympathetic to the Hai- tians, on one hand; on the other hand, this is a highly political issue because the President decided to turn the Haitians away. This issue involves the Presidential politics. If the amendment is successfully attached to our bill, which we hope not, that would be the end of the bill. Another difficulty is that the issue is a very popular one. If it reaches the floor for a vote, many members will have a very hard time to vote NO to the amendment. The only way to stop the amendment being attached to our bill on the House floor is for the Rules Committee to issue a rule for the bill not to allow any additional free amendment on the floor. Our emergent task is to let the Rule Committee members know what we want by calling their offices and asking for CLOSED RULE ON S1216. Our argument should be very simple: THIS AMENDMENT CAN ONLY CAUSE A PRESIDENTIAL VETO. Therefore, it will not help the Haitians and it will hurt the Chinese stu- dents. At the end of the this posting please find the names and phone numbers of the House Judiciary Committee members. This problem is serious and urgent. We also have knowledge that the Chinese Government is at least partially behind this effort - this would be an effective way to kill the bill. Another serious fact is that we do not have a lot of time and this is our last chance. There are only three weeks left for this session of the Congress and ALTOGETHER we have no more than 40 legislative days left for this calendar year. If there is any problem that will just delay the bill so that it can not become law by the end of the year, all the effort we put over the last year and half would be GONE WITH THE WIND. We then would have to start our efforts all over again starting from reintroducing the bill when next year comes. That simply will not give us enough time to protect anybody. We have done so much and we have gone so far pushing this bill. We simply can not afford any problems or delays at this critical stage. We urgently call on your immediate action. As the problems are mounting, we expect that students from certain states to visit the Capitol Hill will be inevitable in the weeks to come. This is the critical time when we, each and every one of us, must concentrate all our energy and resources to give this bill a final push. You can help -- yourself as well as others -- by calling members of the Congress voicing our concern; you can help by making donations to our coor- dinated effort; and you can help by joining us in Washington DC to lobby the Congress. We strongly appeal to you for your donations to facilitate such efforts. Pursuant to Resolution Number 4 of the Fourth Congress of the IFCSS, an account and a mailbox have been established in Washington D.C. for the lob- bying activities. Please make your contribution payable to: CCSA/Immigration Fund and send to: Payable to: CCSA/Immigration Fund P.O. Box 65307, Washington DC, 20035-5307. (Payable item from Wu Tao, , 7-23) The following are names and phone numbers (area code: 202) of House Rules Committee Members: Joe Moakley Ma, Chair 225-8273 Butler Derrick SC 225-5301 Anthony Beilenson Ca 225-5911 Martin Frost Tx 225-3605 David Bonior Mi 225-2106 Tony Hall Oh 225-6465 Alan Wheat Mo 225-4535 Bart Gordon Tn 225-4231 Louise Sloughter NY 225-3615 Gerald Solomon NY, Ranking Minority Member 225-5614 James Quillen Tn 225-6356 David Dreier Ca 225-2305 Bob McEwen Oh 225-5705 === === === === === === === === From: Chong Wang , 7-23, forwarded by Weimin Shen , via China-net I called some congressmen and got some new information: we should call a congressmen whoes name was not on the list somehow: John Carmia? 202-225-5126. We should not forget to call this person, other congressman offices refer to this congressman to be called. === === === === === === === === From: Wu Tao , 7-23 Zhao Haiqing's report/plea (07/22/92) is urgent. Believe it or not, we are closer than ever before to get the Congress pass the Chinese Protection bill (the "Greencard Bill"). Also, we are closer than ever before to lose this bill. Now, the people lobbying for our interests need our help for two things: 1) To call the offices of the members of the Rules Committee and ask for CLOSED RULE ON S1216 (Chinese Protection Bill). 2) Send some money to the people working for us so that they can keep working for us. "It is now or never" is truly the situation. Right now, empty talks are irrelevent. Actions are needed. If we really want to beat the odds and win this game, we need to act now. Besides, this is not just concerning the students in school, but also those who have got a job. As you know, should quotas be not enough, you still would not get your greencard. If everyone waits for the others to act, the lobby will fall short of suc- cess for lack of the final effort which requires our support. So do some- thing for ourselves, please. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. An Appeal from Minnesota Lobby Group.................................. 62 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Minnesota Lobby Group, ALIAS@VX.CIS.UMN.EDU, 7-23 Dear Fellow Chinese Students and Scholars: The Chinese Protection Act is at a critical stage. As you may know that the House Immigration subcommittee marked up this bill last June. It has been referred to the the Judiciary Committee for approval. It is expected that the Judiciary committee will vote on it within the next two weeks. Where does the crisis come from? ~ru! 1. The time for Congress to pass the bill is extremely limited. Although there are still 5 and a half months left for this year, the Congress has only about 40 working days. As a rule, all the bills proposed earlier have to be taken up by the Congress by the end of this year. Those that do not have time to be taken up will no longer to be valid. They have to be rein- troduced if the Congress would like to consider them again. That is to say, this protection bill has to be passed by the Congress and signed by the President before the end of December. Don't forget that this bill may be vetoed by the President. In that case, the Congress has to override the President's veto by the end of the year. Otherwise, this bill has to be reintroduced next year. But technically, it is not possible for the bill to become law before January 1, 1994 - the date on which the Presidential Exe- cutive Order expires. 2. Recently, the Chinese government has launched a strong anti-lobby cam- paign against this bill. They have hired a law firm of which the former director of the Immigration and Naturalization Services is a partner to help organize their campaign efforts. In addition, the Chinese Embassy in Washington has been collecting signatures from some of those Chinese stu- dents who are against this bill. Recently, some key Congressmen have received letters with their signatures, which has put us in a very disad- vantageous position. Therefore we strongly urge that Chinese students and scholars organize to launch a campaign for this bill to counteract their efforts. 3. The Bush Administration, particularly the State Department and the INS, has been trying very hard to block the bill. Its strategy is to make adjustments to this bill, which is a very effective way to kill the bill. Besides, since this is an election year for the House Representatives, and immigration is a very sensitive issue, many Congressmen take a tepid atti- tude toward the bill. 4. The status to lobby the bill at the national level is pathetic. So far there is no consistent campaign to lobby this bill. In particular, there is little effort to lobby the 35 Congressmen/Congresswomen who sit on the Jud- iciary Committee, which is scheduled to debate this bill in the next two weeks. We feel that IFCSS should take a more active role in lobbying the bill, which is so vital to the safety and well-being of the Chinese stu- dents and scholars in the USA. We feel that a task force should be set up immediately to take up the responsibility of coordinating this campaign. We, the Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars (FACSS) at the University of Minnesota, urge the local Chinese Students' organizations across the country to lobby the Congressmen/Congresswomen in their states, particularly those in the Judiciary Committee. We would also like to urge them to send delegates to Washington D.C. to lobby the Congress in the next two weeks. Jinhua Guan (Signature) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Reader Responses on Wedding Announcement in CND ...................... 34 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- [We have received a number of letters from readers regarding the wedding announcement carried in July 22's CND-US. We thank the readers for their concern as well as their high expection for CND.] What is the reason to report Kathy Wang's marital matter on CND? I don't think many people know who the Chinese Army Genearal is. Please be sharp when reporting something, something most people are concerned about. No name please. (Name and address withheld per reader's request) ___ ___ ___ Remember the wedding anouncement you edited in CND and then imagine an immediate privatization of weapon-export industry, get a picture? (From: ) ___ ___ ___ Is the wedding announcement in CND a paid anouncement? If yes, can people pay for any ads and any anouncements in your news? (From: ) [No. CND does not carry any paid commercial advertisement, and CND's volunteers do not derive any income from their participation in CND. - Editor] ___ ___ ___ As a CND reader, I am extremely surprised at CND-US's carrying a wedding announcement. I strongly oppose your inclusion of this item in CND. July 22, 1992's CND-US was the worst one I have ever read. Be aware of the nature of CND. I think Soc-Culture-China is a place for about mentioned "news," but absolutely not for CND. My suggestion is that a poll among CND subscribers be conducted to determine if CND is a proper place for this kind of personal issue. Hopefully, an explanation for the incident will be seen in CND very soon. 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