Ralph McGehee's Archive on JFK Place ==================================== The ongoing denunciation of China's human rights policies apparently has roots as much in U.S. political goals as in any concern for human rights. The oft-repeated process of demonizing a person, organization or government as an initial step in attacking those targets with political or military action is replete throughout the history of the post World War II era. We have seen the National Endowment for Democracy's attack on China's prison system via Harry Wu's Laogai Foundation; and, the attacks on China's treatment of orphans. The latter resulted from a study written for Human Rights Watch/Asia that generated a media barrage including a "60 Minutes" segment in which a Chinese diplomat, who was allowed to briefly defend his country's record, noted that Human Rights Watch/Asia was totally focused on discrediting China. Human Rights Watch/Asia, is a New York-based "privately funded" group. One of the persons involved with the founding organization -- Helsinki Watch -- Orville Schell, is a Wall Street lawyer who is currently a member of the Board of Human Rights Watch (HRW). Schell wrote an article in the 12/14/92, issue of The Nation attacking China for corruption in its stock exchange that had been created only a year or two earlier. In the February 19, 1996 issue of the Nation he describes China's current negotiating posture based on its ancient traditions and recommends "How to Talk to China." He has also written a book "Mandate of Heaven." So if Orville Schell helps make HRW policy toward China it would seem that the organization may not be soley a dispassionate supporter of human rights but instead may have broader goals. It also appears, from the information listed below, that HRW directly or indirectly received NED funding. With NED currently funding 18 operations to alter or unseat the Chinese government and at the same time possibly funding operations to criticize/demonize that government -- we must view with scepticism some of its claims. It should be noted that NED establishes and funds Human Rights groups in numerous countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East -- sometimes multiple groups in one country -- these groups are frequently used to criticize governments probably in order to justify operations to change or overthrow target governments. NED assumed the CIA's role in political action operations in 1983-1984 and it is probable that the CIA satellites many of its operations on individuals, organizations and political parties supported by NED. While NED overtly funds those activities in addition to Human Rights groups overseas, we suggest that the activites of the Human Rights Watch organization in the United States may move in concert with the political goals espoused by NED. In the case of China, would it not be better for the United States to directly negotiate these issues and concerns than go through the time-worm, obvious process of demonizing a government. We are not dealing with a tiny Grenada or a vulnerable Noreiga and this important nation deserves our best efforts. Rather than fall into the familiar deceitful pattern, cannot the United States deal frankly with the American public and the Chinese government on contentious issues? Information from CIABASE files below, indicates that Helsinki Watch is the parent or an affiliated organization of Human Rights Watch/Asia and it also appears that Helsinki Watch was at one time funded by NED. It would be informative to investigate a list of current supporters of Helsinki Watch and Human Rights Watch. I would guess that an investigation might reveal covert CIA funding. Ralph McGehee A staff of 65 and a budget of $5.2 million. Human Rights Watch is the umbrella organization formed in 88 for the fund of Free expression (1975) and five regional divisions: helsinki watch (1979), Americas watch (1981), asia watch (1985), and middle east watch (1989). Committees publish reports and publicize violations of human rights. Robert bernstein, then head of random house, established the fund for free Expression in 75. Together with wall street lawyers Orville Schell and Adrian dewind, Bernstein founded helsinki watch in 79 in response to Persecution of soviets and czechs (including vaclav havels' charter 77). Aryeh neier of aclu, joined as executive director and has played a central Role in developing the full human rights watch program. Important persons are Jeri laber, juan mendez, sidney jones for asia watch, rakiya omaar for Africa watch, neier is overall director and holly burkhalter leads The washington office. Namebase excerpt, filed 1/23/96 Poland, 87 Ned supporting the helsinki watch committee. National endowment for democracy annual Report 87 38 Poland, 88 Ned funding the polish helsinki watch committee. National Endowment for democracy annual report 88 24 Poland, 89-90 Ned, polish american congress, to administer seven projects Designed for democratic movement in poland: independent committees for Education, culture, academic research and health (okno); polish helsinki Watch committee... 1989 $263,000, 1990 $59,000. National endowment for democracy annual report 89 22-23, 90 28 Poland, 86 Support for polish american congress charitable foundation - polish helsinki watch committee. National endowment for democracy Annual report 1986 22 "China plays the market." Orville schell and todd Lappin tell the astonishing, surreal and shocking inside story Of the paradozes of the privatization of the world's largest Marxist state. Beginning with the establishment of the first Chinese stock exchange in 1990, schell and lappin show how the Network of exchanges that followed was rocked by corruption, "Insider trading," "crashes" and all the other financial Fun and games, culminating in riots by angry would-be investors. This award winning nation article was published 12/14/92. The nation 2/5/96 38 An article by Orville Schell, "how to talk to china." Schell goes back to the years 453-221 b.c. to explain the logic behind China's recent negotiating postures -- on how to best manipulate a situation to one's advantage. "Moreover, the fact that after forty-five years of communist party rule China still does not have a viable political system helps create a new sense of political precariousness from which much of the uncompromising rhetoric now emanates." "In the meantime, the Clinton administration ought to stiffen its own back and remind itself that it is involved in a strategic game in which china also needs to "`save the relationship.'" The nation 2/19/96 20-22.