 Xie Yan |
Australian Falun Gong practitioner Phillip Law published an open letter
to the public on April 8. In the letter, he called for help rescuing his
fiancée, Shirley Sie, who has been falsely arrested and held by authorities
following the persecution policies of Jiang Zemin in China. On April 9,
while the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission 2004
was being held in Geneva, Phillip Law traveled to Geneva to appeal to
delegations from different countries to help rescue his fiancée and other
victims of persecution. Below is his open letter to the public:
An Open Letter to the Public
An Urgent Appeal for Human Rights and Conscience: Rescue my fiancée
In February 2002, I was threatened with 15 years of imprisonment and with
execution after being arrested while on the from the streets of Beijing, by
authorities following the persecution policies of Jiang Zemin, the former
president of China. The reason for my unlawful arrest was only that I practice
Falun Gong. Once in custody, I was not allowed to have any communication with
the Australian Embassy in Beijing even though I had an Australian passport. The
authorties told me, “What we say and what we do are the laws, and there is
no need for a court trial before carrying out execution or imprisonment.”
The confirmed death cases of Falun Gong practitioners have quickly approached
930, as the result of gross violations of human rights by Jiang’s group. What is
shocking is that an 8- month-old baby was also killed because his mother refused
to give up practicing Falun Dafa.
On February 23 this year, my fiancée, Shirley Sie was taken from her home by
authorities from the “610 Office”, an agency specifically created to
persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in
the Party and all other political and judiciary systems. On the same day, seven
others were also seized in a similar way, including an Australian citizen’s
sister, Tang Yiwen, who is in danger of losing her life while in custody.
Shirley Sie had been previously imprisoned and tortured for over two years
between October 2000 and January 2003, for refusing to give up Falun Dafa.
Since her arrest approximately 45 days ago, I have not heard anything about
Shirley, and no communication is allowed to reach her. I do not how her current
condition nor whether she is still alive. At present, she is still probably
being held in a place that is officially called, the “Tianhe Law School of
Guangzhou City,” but is in reality a brainwashing center.
Over the years, authorities who follow the persecution policies of Jiang
Zemin have tricked and deceived many of us into believing that its gross human
rights abuses would improve. However, the authorities continue to commit
well-documented human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners,
Christians, Catholics, and other ethnic minorities. They have manipulated the
world into witnessing its killing, but without openly condemning their crimes.
The Chinese regime has labeled their human rights violations as “an
internal matter”, and has succeeded, so far, in limiting the discussion of
human rights issues to “bilateral talks” among a few politicians,
because it does not believe that human rights rests with each person and is a
universal matter. If it is to continue this way, then human rights will become
the privilege of a few politicians who make foreign affairs policy. In this
case, there will never be true human rights for everyone. The acts of using
political, diplomatic and economic coercion and/or enticement to continue
violating and covering up human rights abuses, and Jiang’s political group’s
killing deserve open, international condemnation.
The 60th session of the 2004 United Nations Human Rights Commission, is
currently being held in Geneva, Switzerland. May I appeal to you to urge our
delegation to vote in support of a resolution that condemns Jiang’s political
group’s continuous killing, torture and other violations of human rights. May I
also appeal to you to urgently help rescue my fiancée. Her Chinese name is Sie
Yen, and you may wish to ask the Foreign Affairs Department to communicate with
their Chinese counterparts, to obtain her release and ensure her safety.
I am going to Geneva this Friday to appeal to delegations from different
countries to help rescue my fiancée and other victims of this vicious
persecution. Your help is very much appreciated by the parents of my fiancée,
my family, friends and all kind-hearted people.
Sincerely Yours
Phillip Law
Posting date: 19/April/2004
Original article date: 16/April/2004
Category: Australian News
