U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and longtime congressional advocate for human rights, released the following statement regarding Chinese human rights advocate Lu Siwei, calling for his immediate release.

   “I will work with the Laotian government to help bring Chinese human rights advocate Lu Siwei to the United States so that he can be reunited with his family.  It is very important that Laos abide by its international obligations, as a responsible member of the family of nations.  Only if it demonstrates commitment to rule of law principles will it be able to attract significant foreign investment and decrease its dependency on a country which does not have the interests of the Laotian people at heart.” 

   The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner today released a statement on Lu Siwei’s plight, calling on “Lao People’s Democratic Republic to end the arbitrary detention of lawyer and human rights defender Lu Siwei and permit him to continue his journey to reunite with his family”: Lao must immediately release Chinese lawyer Lu Siwei and prevent his imminent deportation: UN experts | OHCHR

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