Subject: IFCSS HQ NR-4043: Protection Campaign Update

From: IFCSS HQ <ifcss>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 15:42:53 -0400

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IFCSS Headquarters News Release No. 4043    September 30, 1992
               PROTECTION CAMPAIGN UPDATE
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Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS)
   733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005
         Tel. (202)347-0017  Fax: (202)347-0018
                Email: [email-masked]

               Protection Campaign Update
               ==========================

     As of this morning (September 30), the Bill S.1216,
the Chinese Student Protection Bill, is still in the enrolling
process. According to the Constitution, the President has ten
session days (Monday-Saturday) to sign the bill. Since the
Congress is likely to adjourn before October 8, the bill is
clearly within the "pocket veto" range (which means President
Bush can use "pocket veto" to kill the bill if he wants to.)

     There have been some optimistic reports, but there
are also some negative symptons. The Chinese government has
been mysteriously quiet on the passage of S.1216. The HQ
has received reports that Consulate officials are harassing
some local lobby coordinators. We have also seen that some
people are sending petitions to the White House urging the
President to veto the bill.

     Under this situation, we cannot take any chances. We
should not let this bill slip through our grasp. Our strength
are in the well-organized CSS communities and the general
support of American society for continued Chinese protection.
Our major weapon is the sympathetic public opinion. We should
let President Bush know that the bill has strong support in
the CSS communities, in the Congress and in the American
society. We have only a few days left to work on preventing
a veto (or pocket veto).

     Since last Friday, the HQ (Geng Xiao, He Baoping, Shi
Heping and Zhang Qingsong) have been working closely with
our legal advisers in Arent & Fox designing strategies for
this week.

     We have sent materials related to the bill to
more than 30 major newspapers acrossed the nation hoping to
get some favorable editorials in those papers;

     We have prepared, with the help of our lawyers, a new
lobby package with detailed instructions;

     We have sent those packages directly to more than 40
local groups in 16 states. We are glad to see that the
some schools have started actions according to the
instructions.

     We urge other local groups to follow our instructions
closely and do the projects as soon as possible. These
projects and instructions are carefully designed and,
according our legal advisers, have the full support of Mr.
Zhao Haiqing. If you still have questions about our strategy,
you may contact either the HQ or Mr. Zhao.

     From the information we gathered, the White House
has received a lot of messages (telephone calls, petitions,
faxes, etc), some were from Americans. Our work has showed
some positive effects and we should continue our efforts.

     Besides the general efforts, students in the following
states should pay close attention to the following notice:

     The governors in the following four states:

     California,
     Michigan,
     Wisconsin
     Missouri

     have special influence on President Bush because these
states are vital to Bush's re-election campaign. Students
in those states may send petitions (phone, fax, personal
visits) to those governors. You may contact deans or
presidents in your school and ask them to contact governors'
Education Offices. Ask the governors to call President Bush
and urge him to sign the bill.

     We ask CSS nation-wide to pay close attention to the
editorial pages in the newspapers. If you see anything related
to S.1216, please get in touch with the HQ as soon as possible.

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         IFCSS Headquarters Office    Signature
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