WHEREAS:

            For many years the one-party system in Mexico has attempted to bring economic prosperity to Mexico without the parallel development of political democracy; and

WHEREAS:

            Despite the professed objectives of Mexico's leaders and planners, rural Indian populations have not shared in Mexico's progress and in fact the economic gap between the indigenous people of Mexico and the leadership elite has dramatically widened; and

WHEREAS:

            With approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement the agricultural subsistence economy of millions of rural Mexicans is rendered even more tenuous, threatening to deprive them of their ability to support themselves on the land; and

WHEREAS:

            The rulers of China, while presiding over a remarkable economic development and creation of potentially the world's largest consumer market, have at the same time relied on political repression to maintain their power; and

WHEREAS:

            In addition to suppressing any movement toward democracy and a free trade union movement, the rulers of China have imposed their control over Tibet, forcing the Dalai Lama and many of his followers into exile and brutally repressing those who remained; and

WHEREAS:

            In both countries the striving for participation in the society and for democratic freedoms have generated protests that have resulted in brutal killings and repression in the case of China and Tibet, and armed attacks in the case of Mexico.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That this 31st Constitutional Convention of AFSCME condemns the policies of exploitation and discrimination that deny basic human rights and economic participation in the society to millions of people in Mexico, Tibet and China; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME urge the United States government to make clear to the Mexican ruling party the absolute necessity of insuring fair and free elections in order to make it possible for all Mexican citizens to participate fully in their democracy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That we call on the labor movement to build increased links with the democratic labor movement in Mexico to encourage true union democracy and independent trade unionism there; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME urge the United States government to continue its policy of seeking major improvements in human rights by the Chinese government, including provision of protection for a free labor movement, the right of free speech, and the rights of the people of Tibet to exist and to practice their religion and culture free from oppression; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            While recognizing that enhanced trade and commercial relations between the United States and Mexico and China can benefit the people of all three nations, at the same time AFSCME urges the U.S. government not to abandon completely the concern for human rights that has made American international policy a major support to the millions of people throughout the world struggling for freedom and liberty.

SUBMITTED BY:

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

David Richardson, President
Polly Villarreal, Recording Secretary
AFSCME Local 444, Council 57 
California

Liz Larsen, President and Delegate 
Faye Lee, Secretary 
AFSCME Local 443, Council 28
Washington

David Rader, Delegate 
Gordon Umino, President and Delegate
Mari Wyatt, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 843, Council 28 
Washington