The logic of this being a greater degree of religious freedom escaped me. [Laughter.] My final question, Mr. Secretary, relates to a young Chinese woman, Hu Na, the tennis champion who a long time ago requested the privilege of staying in this country. You may recall that my distinguished Republican friend, Jack Kemp and I, submitted a congressional resolution urging that the administration grant Hu Na's request. My wife and I had the opportunity of spending some time with her. She is an extraordinary young woman who is desperately fearful of returning to Communist China. It is quite clear, having publicly requested the privilege of staying here, that her life would be in danger. I understand from a variety of sources, not from you, that you are strongly in support of this request. I spoke with the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization a few days ago, who assured me that within a short period of time a decision will be made. I understand the case is now lodged with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. I would like to serve public notice on this administration that I believe that there will be tremendous congressional uproar and fight in the event the decision is not made in the affirmative. I think this woman has been left out twisting slowly in the wind far too long. I think the delay by Immigration and Naturalization is inexcusable. It is in a fundamental sense a violation of human rights. And I am asking you to carry back to Secretary Shultz the view of this Member of Congress that we have waited far too long and far too patiently. We have been told that the decision should not be made while Secretary Shultz is in China. I thought it was a reasonable request. We did not wish to complicate his visit. He remained quiet. He did not raise the issue. The Secretary has returned safe and sound, but Hu Na is still out there, not knowing every day what is going to happen. There are a variety of disturbing rumors of meetings between the Consulate General of the People's Republic with various officials on this matter, meetings which I view as singularly inappropriate. And I am asking you to give us, A, an assurance that you will personally take this case to the Secretary, and B, your best judgment as to when we can see a final and favorable decision on the Hu Na case. Mr. SOLOMON. Would the gentleman yield? Mr. LANTOS. I would be happy to. Mr. SOLOMON. I would like to make that a unanimous request from all members of the subcommittee. Mr. LANTOS. I would be happy for that. Mr. YATRON. Without objection, the request is unanimous.1 Mr. ABRAMS. Let me say that I would be happy to carry that message to the Secretary. Let me say you are correct in saying that the Department of State has rendered an opinion to the Immigration Service some time ago. I cannot comment publicly on what position we took, you understand. 1 Hu Na was subsequently granted asylum in April. Mr. LANTOS. Right. Mr. ABRAMS. It is really irrelevant what the view of the Chinese Government is, as it is always irrelevant what the view of the applicant's government is, because obviously they are always opposed. Mr. LANTOS. Obviously. Mr. ABRAMS. This will not be taken into consideration. But I cannot tell you when the decision will be made, of course, because the role of the State Department in a sense has been fulfilled and it is now the Immigration Service and the Justice Department. Mr. LANTOS. With all due respect, I think a phone call from Secretary Shultz to the Commissioner might have some impact. Mr. ABRAMS. As I said, I will be happy to raise this issue with him when he returns next weekend from California. Mr. LEACH. Would the gentleman yield briefly? Mr. LANTOS. I would be happy to yield. Mr. LEACH. This could be very similar to the case of the Lithuanian sailor who jumped ship 7 years ago. To have that kind of thing around the neck of this administration, many of whose members have criticized the earlier case would, I think, be awesome. Mr. LANTOS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. YATRON. Thank you. I would like to call on a member of the full committee who is not a member of this subcommittee, but who we are happy to have here, Mr. Dymally from California. Mr. DYMALLY. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Rather than have a question and answer session with you, I would like to have a dialog. First, I am deeply distressed and very saddened to hear the fate of the 22 Baha'is who have obviously been condemned to death by the Iranian Supreme Court. This subcommittee held extensive hearings and the case was a heartbreaking one. ing I think the lack of respect, not for human rights but for life, in Iran causes us some great, great worry, and I would hope that you would heed the plea of my colleagues that they be given status under the religious persecution aspect of it to grant them asylum in this country. Mr. Secretary, I want to refer to page 1161 of your report, on the subject of the black Hebrew community in Israel. I have sent to you a letter regarding the complaints of the Hebrew community, black Hebrew community in Israel. They believe that the summary in your report on this question is very inadequate and bring to your attention some specific complaints regarding the absence of birth certificates for the children who were born in Israel, the denial of educational opportunities-that they cannot attend Israeli schools because they are African Hebrews-the denial of work permits, the denial of health benefits, and the restriction on travel. [The section from the "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1982" referred to follows:] The legal status of the approximately 1,200 members of the Black Hebrew community remains unresolved after almost a decade. Few of them are residing in Israel legally, most having entered the country on tourist visas which expired long ago. Approximately 80 black Hebrews have renounced their American citizenship and may be considered stateless, since the Government of Israel has not accepted their claim of right to immigrant status under the Law of Return. So what I am requesting of the Department is a visit to Damona and a personal interview, rather than relying on past records and past files and past newspaper reports, to look into this lingering problem, because I think it is a sore point for a number of people both in the United States and in Israel. I also have an attachment which I received yesterday from Israel, from the Hebrew Nation. I think it might be helpful to give you a little background. It will be very brief, Mr. Chairman. Some time last year I was approached by a delegation from Chicago of the African Hebrew Nation, and I suspect they came to me because I was a member of this subcommittee, and I suspect also because of my ethnic background and some suspicion that I might be sympathetic with their cause. Their timing was not proper because they anticipated a new chairman of the subcommittee and anticipated your report and felt it was best that we should look at what your report had to say about this problem. Subsequent to the report-evidently you must have telegraphed your report to Damona-the response is embodied in this letter. I hope that, if nothing else, that during the course of your study on Israel this year that your staff will make a personal visit and sit down and talk with them. When that is done, if you would let me know, I would like very much to visit Israel about that time, too. So, Mr. Chairman, I would solicit a response from the Secretary. But before I do that, I would like to have these two letters entered into the record. Mr. YATRON. Without objection. [The material referred to follows:] I am taking this opportunity in anticipation of your testimony before the House Subcommittee on Human Rights to register my concern about a situation that has persisted in Israel for the past thirteen years. I am referring to the African Hebrew Israelites and allegations of human rights violations by the Israeli government. Reliable sources have proffered evidence that the Israeli govern- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Birth Certificates -- Sources allege that the Israeli Denial of Educational Opportunities - The children of the African Hebrews have allegedly been denied - Denial of Work Permits Workers have allegedly been Denial of Health Benefits The community has allegedly Restrictions on Travel -- The Israeli government has It has been pointed out that the above-alleged restrictions violate several provisions and articles of the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights. In light of the United States commitment to human rights and the scope and nature of our relationship with the democratic state of Israel, I am requesting that the Department of State undertake a thorough investigation of these alleged violations. In that regard, I recommend that you include in your investigation a visit to Dimona, Israel to talk with the leadership and members of the community. I have attached a copy of a letter from the African Hebrew leadership in Jerusalem imploring my assistance in this matter. I am aware that the State Department mentions at page 1161 of the Country Reports that the legal status of the African Hebrew community remains unresolved in Israel. It appears that after thirteen years, the Israeli government could have and, indeed, should have resolved this basic contradiction in its democratic process. Although we want to be careful in not alleging any discrimination based on race in this matter, it is especially disturbing to learn that as far back as December of 1981, the Ministry of the Interior in Israel granted permanent resident status to 500 Vietnamese refugees. You can see that these allegations are not to be taken lightly if there is, in fact, a denial of basic human rights in Israel. I trust that you will investigate the matter and report your findings to the Congress in the Country Reports for 1983 if not before.. I look forward to hearing from you. |