| Show Chinese students lost but buti not forgotten N Thursday Jan 25 President Bush recorded a narrow narrow nars nar nar- ON c s row victory when the Senate voted to back a presidential fial veto of a bill protecting Chinese students from tion Uon The day before the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to 25 to override the veto The veto and the Senates Senate's failure to support the Houses House's override was clearly party politics a political power-play power designed to gauge the preside presidents president's ts t's support in the Senate and to to begin 1990 election strategies Its It's unfortunate because the message sent out to the rest of f the world was that business and politics come first while human rights come second Not only was it a blow to every Chinese student in China and the US U.S. who spoke out and risked everything in the name of democracy it was a slap slapS S Jn in the face to students everywhere While Bushs Bush's Jekyll Hyde politics are scary and his inability to take a stand on human rights in China cowardly coward coward- ly Iy the Senates Senate's support of this cowardice is unforgivable Three weeks ago beleaguered by critics who labeled him himas as as washy and weak Bush launched a daring attack attack at at- tack on Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega in the name of human rights and silenced those critics For him to now turn his back on Chinese students students stu stu- stu- stu dents many of whom put their trust in democracy and fearlessly spoke out against the Chinese atrocities makes no sense Once again Bush appears weak and easily manipulated by a a. a government who mercilessly gunned down do thousands of unarmed students The two-thirds two majority vote needed to override the presidential veto and offer Chinese students diplomatic protection fell feU short by only four votes Two of those votes were by Utah senators Garn and Hatch who both voted to back back the presidents president's veto Repressive regimes the world over are tumbling and the uprising in Azerbaijan may be the beginning of the end for forthe forthe the current regime in Russia the granddaddy of all repressive repressive sive governments Now OW is the time to make a statement to the world and saYI ay If you have the courage to speak up for fot freedom w we will support you The Horizon believes that as Americans and students students students stu stu- dents we should speak out and let the courageous Chinese students in this country 1200 of whom live in Utah know mow th that t we will not let them down Legislation should be enacted that will give them the security and protection t they ey deserve |
