Chinese Agents Use Violence Against Guests at an Australian Artisit’s Painting Exhibition

Embassy Staff taking pictures of attendees of the Zhang Cuiying exhibition in Romania

BUCHAREST (EFGIC) – On March 31, 2003 a famous
Chinese painter, Ms. Zhang CuiYing of Australia was holding an exhibition
of her paintings at the Art Galleries of “Teatrul Foarte Mic” Theatre
in Bucharest, Romania when Chinese agents entered the exhibition;
attacked the organisers; and forced the closure of the exhibition.
Ms Zhang CuiYing had held similar picture exhibitions in over 20
countries all over the world. The theme of the exhibition was “Interior
beauty and peace in the art of Zhang Cuiying”. The exhibition was
organised by the Romanian Falun Dafa Association and Zhang Cuiying
is a Falun Dafa practitioner.

On March 27th, the organisers placed an
advertisement in the newspaper “Romania libera”. Very soon after
the paper came out, at around 10:00 am on March 27th, the organisers
received a phone call from a Mr. Chen (or Chan) who introduced
himself as a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Bucharest
and who told them that “the Chinese government does not allow
such an activity” and told them to cancel the event. The organisers
did not cancel the event, considering this threat to be completely
illegal.

On March 31, 2003, the day of the exhibition,
the following events took place:

• At 11:00 am the organisers
  were informed that there was a Chinese agent at the Art Galleries
  of the “Teatrul Foarte Mic” Theatre (where the exhibition was
  going to take place later in the day) who was taking pictures
  of the people who were helping with the event. He left when
  he was notified that the organisers were 5 minutes away from
  the Art Galleries.




• At 13:00 we started to
  put up the paintings in the exhibition halls.




• At 18:30 the Art Gallery
  started to fill with people.




• At 19:00 three Chinese
  agents arrived and claimed that the exhibition was illegal.
  They also claimed that they would call the police (who never
  showed up) and started to use violence and push around the organisers
  – including an Australian citizen who was videotaping the event.
  This was noticed by the journalists present and also videotaped.
  The videotape is available.




• Around 19:15 we were informed
  that “Teatrul Foarte Mic” Theatre wanted us to leave, while
  the 3 exhibit halls were all full with people. The press conference
  followed as planned. We explained in detail the abuses from
  Chinese Embassy representatives as well as the peaceful nature
  of the exhibit towards which such a reaction from the Chinese
  Embassy is totally unacceptable.




• We were informed by representatives
  of the Theatre that the executive director, Mr. Florin Calinescu
  made the decision to have us removed. The only reason given
  was pressure from higher levels.




• Around 20:30 we started
  to disassemble the art work. At 21:00 the entire area was emptied.

In order to further clarify these events,
give more details with regard to the exhibition as well as the
behaviour of the representatives of the Chinese Embassy and the
Romanian counterparts we are holding a press conference on April
1st at 13:00 at Strada Londra Nr. 18, Et. 1, Ap. 8 in Bucharest.

We consider it completely unacceptable
that the Chinese Embassy is intimidating citizens and guests in
Romania with regard to a cultural activity which has taken place
in many countries on Europe and the world. For more information
on Zhang Cuiying please see http://www.zhangcuiying.org/.

What seems to bother the representatives
of the Chinese Embassy is the fact that in the year 2000, Ms.
Zhang Cuiying, an Australian Citizen made a legal appeal in China
for the release of Falun Gong practitioners who are persecuted
and arrested in China and asked the Chinese government to stop
the systematic persecution of these peaceful people. As a result,
Ms. Zhang was arrested and put into a labour camp for 8 months
where she was subjected to beatings and torture at the hands of
Chinese guards. Ms Zhang was released after 8 months as a result
of international pressure.

For more information please contact:

(Romanian and English) Adrian Sturdza,Dana Betlevy +40- 0723.177.026
or +41-21-326.55.02;
(German and Romanian): Mircea Arthofer email m.arthofer@gmx.net,
+43 650 48 28 341;
(English and Romanian): Steve Ispas +1 408 489 5752

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about),
is a practise of meditation and exercises with teachings based
on the universal principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.”
It is a practise that was taught in private for thousands of years
before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong
has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and
separate from other practises such as the religions of Buddhism
and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread
by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practised in over
50
countries.

With government estimates of as many as
100
million practicing Falun Gong, China’s President Jiang Zemin
outlawed the peaceful practise in July 1999 (report),
fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens
than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions
who had experienced improved health and positive life changes
from Falun Gong, Jiang’s regime has intensified its propaganda
campaign to turn public opinion against the practise while quietly
imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practise it.

The European Falun Gong Information Centre
has verified details of 641 deaths (reports
/ sources)
since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government
officials inside China, however, report that the actual death
toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure
to be much higher. Hundreds
of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000
being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
THE EUROPEAN FALUN GONG INFORMATION CENTRE
Peter Jauhal 44 (0) 7739 172 452. Nicolas Schols 32 (0) 479875734
More contacts. http://www.falungonginfo.net/europe.htm

Email: europe@falungonginfo.net