*EPF212 05/16/00
Seiple Discusses Religious Freedom in Sudan, China, Russia
(Applauds work of U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom) (870)
By David Pitts
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States is committed to promoting religious freedom around the world, Robert Seiple, the State Department's ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said May 16.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom's first annual report released on May 1, Seiple called it "positive," despite "some disagreements." Although the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is a U.S. government body on which Seiple sits, its membership is bipartisan. It is separate from the State Department, which issues its own reports on international religious freedom.

In his prepared statement, Seiple indicated broad agreement with the Commission's report but expressed disagreement with some specifics, particularly the Commission's recommendations on how to promote religious freedom in China. Most of his comments at the hearing today, however, concerned the situation in Sudan, he said, since he had recently testified in Congress about the religious freedom in Russia and China.

On Sudan, Seiple said the State Department "agreed with the (Commission) report's assessment" that religious freedom there is seriously impeded. "Religion is a major factor in the crisis" facing the country, he added. He called the Khartoum government's interpretation of Islam "extreme" and noted that the victims of enslavement in Sudan are "almost uniformly Christians." In addition, it is "mostly Christians" who are the victims of the bombing in the war there, he remarked.

As far as the Commission's policy recommendations on religious freedom in Sudan are concerned, Seiple said the Department "welcomes" them. "They are being studied," he added. He also noted that some of the recommendations already are being implemented. He referenced the "comprehensive sanctions" that have been in place since 1997.

On China, Seiple said the State Department "shares the Commission's analysis" of the state of religious freedom in the country. "Religious persecution continues to occur there," he stressed. But on the Commission's recommendation that normal trade relations with China be made conditional on progress toward religious freedom, he said, "I must disagree with the Commission." He indicated that a policy of conditionality would be unworkable.

With regard to Russia, Seiple said, "I share the Commission's concern" over the "fragility" of religious freedom in the country. "Opportunities for discrimination against particular religious groups remain plentiful." He also said he agreed with the Commission's recommendation for "continual active monitoring."

Under questioning by Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback, Seiple was asked whether the administration would favor legislation granting authority to provide "direct, non-lethal assistance to people fighting the (Khartoum) government," as distinct from the indirect, non-lethal aid that is now being provided? Seiple said the matter "is currently being studied in the State Department extensively. No determination has been made yet."

Asked what other countries should be closely examined as far as problems with religious freedom are concerned, Seiple said his office is looking at 17 countries in particular "of which maybe four or five should be looked at in depth." He noted that the State Department's own report examined the state of religious freedom in 194 countries.

Brownback also asked about the status of religious freedom in North Korea. He said he had received "disturbing reports" about attacks on religious freedom there. Seiple acknowledged the problem in North Korea, saying the Department had information that had been difficult to document. But now, he said, the Department is "getting additional reports from a variety of sources overseas, something we didn't have a year ago."

Rabbi David Saperstein, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said the issuance of their first annual report, as envisaged under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, "is a milestone event." The "fundamental liberty" of religious freedom is "under serious threat" in a number of countries around the world, he added.

So far, Saperstein said the Commission has concentrated on three countries. Two are countries designated by the State Department as "countries of particular concern" - China and Sudan. At the same time, Saperstein said the Commission "also selected another country: Russia." He acknowledged that there is "much more religious freedom there" than in China or Sudan, but said there are "growing problems."

Saperstein concluded his testimony by citing specific recommendations which he said could improve the State Department's own report on worldwide religious freedom. Seiple responded by saying, "We welcome these recommendations and take them seriously." Noting that the resources of his office are "stretched," he also indicated that it is in the process of doubling in size. Seiple also said the Commission is making "a substantial contribution" to the promotion of religious freedom around the world.

The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 created an ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department and mandated a State Department report once a year. The bipartisan U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom was also envisaged by the Act, but because of delay in appointing members to the Commission has only been staffed and in offices for the last four months.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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