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At 11:00 A.M. on March 17, important political figures and renowned
human rights advocates from Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom
held a joint press conference with Falun Gong practitioners at Palais
des Nations to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.
At the press conference, a representative of the European Falun Dafa Association
said in the opening remarks that in these especially difficult times
when lies, hatred and intolerance are predominant, faced with the urgency of the
situation, we Falun Gong practitioners, on this symbolic day of the opening of
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, appeal to all people of the
world to stop the Chinese authorities' persecution of Falun Gong.
Afterwards, Parliament Members from different European countries and human
rights advocates delivered speeches.
A Swiss Parliament Member, the Chairman of the Swiss Green Party, Mr. Patrice Mugny and a
representative of Germany's International Human Rights, Mr. Peter Mueller who
is in charge of China affairs, expressed in their speeches their support for
the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners.
The Chairman of the Asia Department of the French Green Party, Mr. Jean-Marc Brule,
strongly condemned the corruption and dictatorship of the Jiang regime, saying that the Jiang regime has completely lost its senses. Jiang not only suppresses Tibetans and democracy advocates, but he now persecutes
Falun Gong, the most peaceful group.
He also called on the Chinese government to immediately release German
student Xiong Wei and German resident Lin Wenrong who are currently
unlawfully detained in China. He said that he would always stand by the side of
Falun Gong, because it is the most peaceful group and deserves to be cherished.
Former United Kingdom Upper House member and senior diplomat Lord Thurlow
said in his speech, “Presently, the world focuses its attention on the Middle
East. However, on the other side of Asia, in China, the persecution and defaming
propaganda against the 100 million non-violent, non-political Falun Gong
practitioners have lasted for four years, which violates the UN human rights
convention that China also signed.” He also said that the persecution launched
by this shameless centralized government (Jiang regime) is unparalleled, and was
induced by jealousy.
Two Falun Gong practitioners, Zhao Ming, a graduate student from Ireland, and
Zhang Xiaotian from Canada also gave speeches at the press conference. Zhao Ming
had suffered brutal persecution for two years in China. Zhang Xiaotian's
sister-in-law was tortured to death. His sister was forced to leave home and
became destitute to avoid being imprisoned. They used their personal experiences
to condemn the cruel persecution.
Zhao Ming said, “This is the fourth time we have appealed in front of the United
Nations, because the inhuman persecution has been going on in China for four
years. Support from the Irish Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs as
well as senior UN human rights commissioners played an important role in helping
me to gain release from China and return to Ireland to continue my studies. I
would like to express my appreciation to all these kind-hearted people. I would
also like to tell all representatives from all UN countries and all human
rights representatives, that up to the present, more than 600 innocent Falun
Gong practitioners have been tortured to death.”
A representative from “Friends of Charles Li” also attended the press
conference. He called on the Chinese government to release Falun Gong
practitioner Charles Li, an American citizen who has been wrongfully detained in
China. Dr. Charles Li went back to China in January 2003 to visit his family and
was illegally arrested as soon as he stepped off the airplane at the Guangzhou Airport
in China.
Posting date: 20/March/2003
Original article date: 19/March/2003
Category: World News
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