27. Text of H. Con. Res. 434, a resolution condemning all forms of religious persecution and discrimination as a violation of human rights.

28. Press release from Senator Robert W. Kasten, Jr., U.S. Representative to the U.N. 37th session of the General Assembly, regarding the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination based on Religion or Belief, November 23, 1982.

29. Press release by Carl Gershman, U.S. Representative on the Third Committee of the United Nations, in right of reply to the Soviet Union, on Item 84, Religious Intolerance, November 26, 1982.

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RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AS A VIOLATION OF

HUMAN RIGHTS

Overview

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,
Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee met in open markup session at 10:30 a.m. in room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Don Bonker (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Mr. BONKER. The subcommittee will come to order.

The subcommittee convenes for the purpose of beginning our series of hearings on religious persecution.

Before we get into that subject and before the witnesses are invited to testify, we do have some business that is before the subcommittee. If there is no objection, we will take up the two resolutions that are currently pending.

The first is introduced and sponsored by our colleague, Mr. Barney Frank from Massachusetts. The second is sponsored by our colleague from New Jersey, Mr. Smith. Both are here this morning, and would like to testify on behalf of their respective resolutions. At this time, I would like to call on Mr. Frank for his comments in support of House Concurrent Resolution 100.1

STATEMENT OF HON. BARNEY FRANK, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Mr. FRANK. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you and the other members of the subcommittee for the cooperation you have given me individually, but even more to the diligence with which you pursue this cause.

We all get asked, I guess, those of us who get involved with human rights, "What good is any one thing going to do?" I don't think there is any room for doubt that, cumulatively, the effect of congressional concern for human rights, which this subcommittee has led the way on, has clearly made life better for a lot of people. It is unfortunate this kind of thing is necessary. We would all love to see a world in which we could abolish this subcommittee and we could all go off into other things. But as long as there are the kind of blatant denials of human rights across the world that 1 See app. 1 for text of resolution.

exists, the work of this subcommittee is probably as essential as
anything we do.

Specifically, with regard to House Concurrent Resolution 100
which is sponsored by a large number of Members of the House,
Senator Levin has been sponsoring and has taken the lead with
similar legislation in the Senate, it deals with the seven Pentecos-
talists, the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families who have been
forced by oppression of the Soviet Union to take refuge in the
American Embassy. And with the recent hunger strike resulting in
the removal of one of the seven to a Russian hospital, no longer
under the protection of the American Embassy, the people's con-
cern has increased.

I will submit my prepared statement for the record, and simply
make a few remarks right here.

I would also like, if I could, to submit for the record letters that
were sent, signed by many Members of the House, to President
Brezhnev and also to President Reagan; and a statement by the So-
ciety of Americans for Vashchenko Emigration, the spokesperson
being Jane Drake.

Mr. BONKER. Without objection, so ordered.

[The information follows:]

We are deeply concerned about the request of the Vashchenko and
Chmykhalov families to emigrate from the Soviet Union, particularly
in light of the recent hospitalization of Lidiya Vashchenko
resulting from her hunger strike.

The seven Penecostals have been waiting patiently in the U.S.
Embassy in Moscow for exit visas for over three and a half years.
We ask that you refrain from taking advantage of Lidiya's hos-
pitalization to detain her any longer than is absolutely necessary
to ensure her stable medical condition. We ask that, pending
receipt of exit visas for the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families,
Lidiya be allowed to return to the U.S. Embassy. Finally, we
ask that you take the necessary steps to grant the Vashchenko and
Chmykhalov families exit visas.