Religious Freedom in China
Transcript (PDF) (Text)
During the post-election Congressional session, the CECC held a full hearing on the continuing official campaign against religious practice and practitioners in China. The hearing was held on Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 10:00 AM in Room 2255 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
All CECC Hearings and Issues Roundtables are open to the public and press. Members of the public who wish to attend do not need to reply to this message or register; we look forward to seeing you on November 18. Press representatives should see the instructions below.
The CECC Annual Report for 2004 (PDF file) notes that Chinese government repression of free religious belief and practice has grown more severe during 2004. Hundreds of unregistered religious practitioners, as well as adherents of spiritual groups such as Falun Gong, have endured severe government harassment over the past year. This hearing elicited the views of an official U.S. government commission as well as witnesses representing Christian and Buddhist believers in China.
Opening Statements
Witnesses
Panel 1
Ms. Preeta Bansal, Chair, US Commission on International Religious Freedom
Panel 2
Ms. Ngawang Sangdrol, International Campaign for Tibet
Pastor Bob Fu, President, China Aid Association
Mr. Joseph Kung, President, The Cardinal Kung Foundation
Dr. Pitman Potter, Director, Institute of Asian Research and Professor of Law, University of British Columbia
