From DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.orgTue Aug 22 02:36:02 1995 Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 07:34:00 +0100 From: Debra Guzman Reply to: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org To: beijing95-l@netcom.com, beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org Subject: Media - Beijing Women's Conference [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] ## author : apakabar@clark.net ## date : 19.08.95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE: 'QUESTIONS PERSIST' (Foreign Media Reaction Daily Digest) In anticipation of the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing September 4-12, foreign commentators focused on China's human rights practices and nuclear policy and pondered how the international community might best show its displeasure with Beijing's "provoking arrogance." Many pointed to China's recent unfathomable actions--moving up the date of a second nuclear test and increasing capital punishment as a way of making Beijing more conducive to the conference atmosphere, continuing to hold American citizen Harry Wu prisoner, and cracking down on a recent rally of environmental activists--and questioned whether Beijing is really interested in global opinion. China's state-run China Daily and People's Daily ran an official statement promising that the Chinese delegation would "work hard" with conference participants on issues such as equality, peace and development to promote "an ideal" Beijing Declaration. Implicit in much of the commentary was the fact that most of the world continues to look to the U.S. for leadership in setting the tone of the conference. Although White House advisers were deemed to be "at loggerheads" over the question of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's participation, most judged that in fact the administration "should deliberate long and hard" before reaching such an important decision. Few commentators ventured their own opinions on whether Mrs. Clinton should attend, and, among those who addressed the issue of a general boycott, opinion was nearly evenly divided. Pundits in Nepal and Thailand judged that a boycott would be counterproductive. A commentator in the Philippines, however, disagreed and said that holding the conference would mean a "public relations coup" for China. German papers engaged in a lively debate on the boycott question. A commentator for national radio Deutschland Radio of Berlin, arguing in favor of holding the conference, said that while the meeting itself would not convince China to change its ways, it "would be irritating for the old men in Beijing" who would find it "impossible...to silence a forum with more than 30,000 participants." Right-of-center Koelnische Rundschau, on the other hand, judged that a boycott was in order. Recalling that during the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, "nobody wanted to know what happened in the host country" it asked, "Will the international community never learn its lesson?" Comment in Japan was illustrative of many who felt that while their countries left much to be desired in the area of women's rights, the conference would provide "a good start" for more self-examination in that area. This survey is based on 29 reports from 13 countries, August 11-18. EDITOR: Gail Hamer Burke EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC CHINA: "Women Lay Out Goals For Conference" The English-language, official China Daily and the official Communist Party People's Daily said (8/12), "The Chinese delegation will work hard to promote an ideal Beijing Declaration at the upcoming Fourth World Conference on Women, according to the delegation leader and chairman of the All-China Women's Federation, Chen Muhua. She said: 'To reach the goal,the Chinese delegation will negotiate with groups from other countries to try to reach consensus on issues such as equality, peace and development.' Chen said, 'We will take this opportunity to make friends and gain a better understanding of sisters from other countries.'" HONG KONG: "The More Clinton Explains About Lee The Worse It Gets" According to the independent English-language Express News (8/12), "It appears that the deadlock between China and the United States is hard to break for the time being. Bill Clinton for the first time has admitted that he personally approved [Taiwan President] Lee Teng-hui's entry into America. This will make the chances of the leaders of China and the United States meeting and holding talks even slimmer.... Since the United States has not admitted that it is at fault, how can Mr. Jiang meet with Mr. Clinton again? In his letter inviting Mr. Jiang to visit America next November, Mr. Clinton even set the release of Harry Wu as a prerequisite. This is indeed an idle dream. Even if First Lady Hillary Clinton goes to Beijing next month to attend the World Conference on Women, that would be of no avail. It remains to be seen how relations between the United States, China and Taiwan will develop." JAPAN: "A Unique Opportunity For Japanese Women" The business-oriented Nihon Keizai Shimbun said (8/11), "The official delegation from Japan has not been chosen because of the recent election and cabinet reshuffle, but, more than 5,000 Japanese are scheduled to attend the NGO forum. The Japanese delegation plans to invite 500 people to an exchange meeting on September 3. This type of exchange will be the major factor at the Beijing conference. The conference will provide an unique opportunity for the participants to learn that life for women in different countries varies greatly as do the difficulties they must overcome. "Japan might be labeled as underdeveloped in women's issues because no woman from the cabinet nor representative from a national organization headquarters will attend the conference. But things will start moving after the conference. The national conference will take place later in September to discuss ways to create a society where both men and women jointly share planning. The UN Women's Conference in Beijing is not likely to be a goal unto itself but a good start for people at the grass-roots level to take the initiative in the women's issues and create a society women can equally share with men. Up until now, the task has been carried out mostly by bureaucrats under foreign pressure." AUSTRALIA: "Questions Persist" Marissa Williams wrote in the regional West Australian (8/18), "The lead-up to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing has been fraught with conflict and controversy. And questions persist. Will the United States boycott the conference? Should the venue of a parallel conference be moved? Will China allow dissidents to attend? Perhaps the biggest controversy is the irony of China as a conference host, given its questionable human rights record. In the past few days, it has executed at lease 16 criminals as part of a campaign which it says is to protect public order during the conference.... Differences in religion and culture are almost certain to cause conflict at the conference. It could be a replay of the stormy atmosphere at last September's UN International Conference on Population and Development." "Women's Police Step Out" The West Australian (8/17) carried a Beijing bylined report, "Radical feminists attending the United Nations World Conference on Women here next month should beware. China has unveiled a force of 66 policewomen trained in martial arts and military assault tactics to maintain order at the conference." PHILIPPINES: "PR Coup For China" Washington-based Arabella Driscoll remarked in a column (8/12), "The United States should deliberate long and hard and in the end I hope we decide not to go.... There are other ways to present women's issues without giving China a political and public relations coup.... The Chinese government has already put in measures to ensure its population gets no Western ideas by separating the NGOs from the main conference by tens of miles away. Complaints are numerous from women activists who are having problems with or who have been denied accreditation.... It is safe to bet that the Chinese women's delegation is not going back to the villages to teach women their rights." "The Superiority Of Filipino Women" Opus Dei member and economist Bernardo Villegas, wrote in a column (8/12) in the conservative Manila Bulletin: "As the whole world prepares for the Fourth World Women Conference to be held in Beijing...we should remind ourselves that Filipino women have very little to learn from women's liberation movements that have generally originated from the West. Since pre-colonial times, Philippine society has been matriarchal in nature." "What Asia-Pacific Women Want" R.J. David's column in the anti-administration Philippine Daily Inquirer said in part (8/17): "It seems that NGO women are coming to Beijing fired by the idea of networking with like-minded sisters, but deeply skeptical of the long-lasting significance of the decisions to be made at the official conference. At the meeting of the Asia-Pacific NGO Working Group last June, the common feeling was that 'the Preparatory Committee discussions virtually ignored the significant conceptual and practical initiatives developed by women over the last decade in their critical analysis of their role in society.'" THAILAND: "A Boycott Would Not Make Sense" The lead editorial in the independent English-language Nation said (8/12), "Right now there is a big debate on whether the United States should withdraw from the Women's Conference because of the human rights policies of the host country. As Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, points out: 'Those suggestions are well-motivated, but they miss the main point'.... It would not make sense in the name of human rights to boycott a conference whose primary purpose is the promotion of human rights. The way to help women in China and elsewhere is not to abandon the field to others, but rather to attend this conference and to debate head on the differences in the existing philosophy and ideology." SOUTH ASIA INDIA: "Chains Still Clink" An analysis in the independent Hindustan Times (8/17) by columnist Chanchal Sarkar said, "Thirty to 40 thousand women winging to one place, Beijing, in September would seem to make anything meaningful emerging improbable... In the 10 years since the last conference in Nairobi, things have got very much worse for women as a whole.... We may be sure that Indian figures contribute very significantly to these averages.... Beijing will have to discuss a situation that has become more dismaying since Nairobi in 1985.... "Things are bad not only in developing countries. In the United States, almost half of all poor families are supported by women with no spouse present and their average income is 23 per cent below the official poverty line. But, overall, the position in the G-7 countries is many leagues ahead of Third World countries." "White House Mum On Hillary" Washington correspondent Kalyani Shankar wrote in the independent Hindustan Times (8/12), "The White House is keeping mum on the First Lady's participation in the Fourth International Women's Conference in Beijing.... First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is the honorary chairperson (a decision about her attendance is yet to be made). Mrs. Clinton has been taking a keen interest in women's issues.... Mrs. Clinton's participation is linked to a political decision. Sino-U.S. relations are at their nadir now and there are no signs of improvement even after high-level discussions between the U.S. Secretary of State Warren Chiristopher and the Chinese Foreign Minister at Brunei recently. The Chinese are annoyed with the United States for issuing a visa to Taiwan President Lee to visit Cornell University.... Although the administration in maintaining that the conference is a UN meet and bilateral issues are not relevant, Mrs. Clinton's participation, still remains a question mark." NEPAL: "Such Conference Must Be Held" A commentary in po-left Mahanager (8/13) observed, "It is significant for women that such conferences are being held occasionally, but they will not be justifiable if the participants silently return with passed resolutions but fail to draw the attention of mankind towards the points of the resolution.... Meanwhile, it is known that the venue of the NGO conference has been shifted to 55 minutes away from the main conference center.... "According to the Chinese government, the change was due to various problems arising from the geographical situation... But the Chinese statement has been rejected by the UN group of women who are now launching a signature campaign in protest of the shift." EUROPE BRITAIN: "Advisers At Loggerheads Over Hillary's Attendance" The conservative Daily Telegraph said (8/18), "Hillary Clinton and the president's foreign policy advisers are at loggerheads over her demand to attend the UN women's conference in Beijing. A decision on whether she should attend the Fourth World Conference on Women next month has been put off as the administration weighs the likely backlash.... Mr. Clinton's advisers know from experience to tread carefully when Mrs. Clinton is involved. Officially, the national security team has no view on her attending, but many privately express misgivings." "Call For Action Valid World Over" The independent Financial Times editorialized (8/18), "The UN Fourth World Conference on Women will have to struggle to be anything more than a talking shop when it finally convenes next month in Beijing. Yet the UN's latest Human Development Report has at least ensured that delegates will have plenty to talk about. Some of the report's prescriptions for achieving greater sexual equality make rather more sense for rich countries than for poorer ones. But the call for action on women's behalf is valid the world over.... Many poorer countries may not be able to afford to erect Western-style means of achieving greater female equality. But that does not mean they can afford to ignore the goal itself." GERMANY: "Let's Go To Beijing" Garber of national radio station Deutschland Radio of Berlin said (8/18), "China of all nations demonstrates almost every day how little it is interested in global opinion. A boycott of the UN Women's Conference would be irritating for the old men in Beijing, but it would certainly not prompt them to change anything regarding its human rights and nuclear policies. This is why the answer to this provoking arrogance of the Chinese rulers should be: Let's go to Beijing. It is easy for Chinese police to gag a handful of Greenpeace activists, but it will be impossible for a totalitarian regime to silence a forum with more than 30,000 participants." "Let's Not Go To Beijing" Right-of-center Koelnische Rundschau commented (8/18), "The UN must immediately cancel its Women's Conference in Beijing. If it does not have the courage to do so--and there are indications of this--at least the Bonn government should set a sign. Quite a few European governments only wait for the Bonn government to cancel its invitation. What China is affording in the preparatory stage of the biggest women's conference of all times defies description. This cynicism is intolerable. The approaching women's conference reminds one of the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936. At that time, nobody wanted to know what happened in the host country. Will the international community never learn its lesson?" "Provocations Show Underlying Weakness" Winfried Scharlau commented on ARD-TV's (national channel one) late evening newscast Tagesthemen (8/18), "China is provoking the global community and seems to enjoy the wave of protests. But at closer inspection, this...self-assurance proves to be a lack of political wisdom, a weakness which will greatly damage the country.... The nuclear tests and the mass executions can also be assessed as the last attempt to shed the burden of the UN Women's Conference, which will create only problems and embarrassments for the Chinese leadership. The Chinese major power wants to prove that it is able to act on its own--but it only creates doubts about its maturity and stability." "UN Should Cancel Conference" Centrist Offenbach Post argued (8/18), "In its human rights policy, China is not impressed by massive accusations. In the preparatory stage of the UN Women's conference, executions were carried out yesterday. The only right answer would be a cancellation of the conference by the UN. The UN, which has devoted itself to respect human rights, wants to carry out a conference in a country in which executions are orchestrated as a public spectacle. This is a farce. But the UN is likely to react as indecisively in China as it did in the Balkans." "Abhoring" Werner Adam argued on the front page of right-of-center Frankfurter Allgemeine (8/17), "A strategy of deterrence: three weeks before the opening of the UN Women's Conference in Beijing, the Chinese regime is permanently executing death sentences to create a so-called 'good social environment' for the participants in the conference.... The Chinese regime has learned that executions hardly or have no deterring effect whatsoever.... What remains is the effect these executions have on the outside. But these effects can only be devastating since the Beijing leadership links the executions to the Women's Conference and obviously hopes that the conference does not take place at all." "It cannot be ruled out that the nervousness of the power and security bodies is growing with every day the conference comes closer. But this is why the justified criticism of the regime should not lead to a boycott of the conference. This would be a bad service for those in China who, irrespective of the massacre against supporters of the democracy movement six years ago, courageously advocate political reforms and who need international presence in China in addition to international support." "The Women's Conference Must Take Place" Centrist Sueddeutsche Zeitung of Munich opined (8/17), "Despite the latest developments, the UN Women's Conference will take place. And this is better than a boycott. A boycott would not only leave the stage to those who do not want this conference, it would also leave those people alone in Beijing who are longing for a change of the Chinese society. the well-known Beijing journalist and opposition politician Dai Qing said what had to be said. She hopes for the chances this summit will offer, even though she thinks to be chased out of town by Chinese authorities before the conference has even begun." "In View Of The Executions" Centrist Bonner Express held (8/17), "The situation could hardly be more perfidious and it is understandable that many politicians in the West vehemently demand a transfer of the conference or even call for a boycott. But such a step would only salve our bad conscience. This is why, despite all apprehensions, it is better to use the conference as a forum to denounce the execution of death sentences and human rights violations in China. Such legal possibility of a protest otherwise never exists in the Middle Kingdom. The United Nations are the organizers of the conference. But China could not treat the UN as rigorously as it treated Greenpeace activists whom it threw out of the country." "A Clean Country" Frankfurter Allgemeine held (8/11), "In China, everything is like in the old days of the countries of the East bloc. International conferences must take place...without any frictions. Nobody and nothing may blur the 'nice' picture of the country. In a few weeks, the UN women's conference will take place in Beijing. According to traditions, the execution commandos will now increase their activities in the Chinese jails. What is shocking about the situation in China is the high number of executions during normal times. The openness which the Chinese leadership has now demonstrated to 'keep the country clean' with death penalties should create massive protests in civilized countries even though corresponding statements are also directed at the Chinese population. But since the executed are 'only' criminals and nobody wants to strain relations with China, the women from all over the world will happily travel to China in september and really like such a 'clean' country. Have a lot of fun." RUSSIA: "What Is Beijing's Rush?" Centrist, army Krasnaya Zvezda (8/15) published an Itar-Tass report: "With Beijing preparing to host a UN women's conference in September, the Chinese leaders decided to move forward the planned nuclear testing, eager to avoid untoward repercussions during so important a forum." LATIN AMERICA ARGENTINA: "Women's Rights" Conservative La Prensa (8/12) applauded Pope John Paul's call for the end of the "systematic marginalization" of women in society. The paper opined that "aggression against women, in all of its manifestations and implications, is a phenomenon that is linked to the degradation of the human condition." PARAGUAY: "Beijing Drives Women's Rights" Leading ABC Color (8/16) commented, "It is undeniable that in many countries--the most industrialized--the change in attitude made by women has been significant, such as in the workplace, politics, health and education. It has not occurred in relation to violence in all its forms, that constitutes a common shared problem. Besides, women of Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific countries suffer from a greater degree of malnutrition and illiteracy than in the rest of the population, and Paraguay is no exception.... "Above all, it is in the area of reproductive health, where one possibly confronts forcefully the two socioeconomic trends clearly defined in previous conferences, since it is at the crux of negative discrimination against the mother of the family, as much as in earnings as in employment, in international or local politics, health or education. "The risk that Beijing runs is to fall again into expressions of desires, using the woman as a vehicle toward goals contrary to her own welfare. When this happens, one disguises a political or economic objective and one forgets the only valid goal: to ascertain if through the suggested measures of three previous congresses, women have succeeded in shaping a genuine ideal for themselves for which to fight." For more information, please contact: U.S. Information Agency Office of Public Liaison Telephone: (202) 619-4355 8/18/95