Despite five weeks of detention without facing a single charge, a Swedish
Falungong practitioner said before being deported that she had no hard
feelings towards Thailand or its people.
“I still care for and respect Thailand and Thai people very much,” said
Pirjo Svensson at Bangkok international airport on Thursday night.
“But I hope that the Thai government will, from now on, make better
decisions about Falungong and not take such actions against human rights in
the future.”
Police raided Svensson’s apartment on April 29 and confiscated items related
to the Falungong sect.
She was arrested on suspicion that she was planning a demonstration against
Chinese President Hu Jintao, who visited Bangkok that day for a conference
on the Sars crisis
The Falungong sect is outlawed in China but not in Thailand. China claims
that the sect has a hidden political agenda.
Svensson was handed over to the immigration police and her visa revoked.
Reading from a statement, Svensson said: “I was not questioned, but they
[the police] went through my materials. Police said that because of the
materials my visa would be revoked.
“I have obeyed all laws and have not been charged with any crime. I have
been waiting five weeks for my appeal to be hard, only to be told that the
Thai government decided not to consider my appeal,” she said.
Svensson said she simply exercised, meditated, studied and applied the
principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance.
“We are not against China or any country. We only tell people the terrible
things that [former Chinese president] Jiang Zemin and a few others have
done against humanity,” she said.
She was accompanied from the immigration lock-up to the airport by Swedish
Ambassador to Thailand Jan Axel Nordlander.
The embassy had lodged an official protest with the Thai government over
Svensson’s detention and demanded her immediate release.
Stockholm also summoned Thai diplomats to receive a protest note. However,
there was no response, and Svensson remained in custody without being
charged.
The embassy on Thursday issued a statement saying that the Thai authorities’
opinion that Svensson constituted a risk to the country’s security was “hard
to comprehend”.It is “regrettable” if Thailand, which has acceded to the UN
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and is respected as a leading country
in the protection of human rights and democracy, now does not respect its
obligations, the embassy’s statement said.
Marisa Chimprabha
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Pirjo Svensson’s Statement to the Media from Landvetter Airport in Sweden
Statement to the Media
From Mrs. Pirjo Svensson of Gothenburg, Sweden
Landvetter Airport, Sweden
6 June 2003
Although the Thai authorities have wrongfully detained me for 37 days, I still care for and respect Thailand and the Thai people very much. In fact, it is for their sake that I stayed in detention and appealed the decision to revoke my visa and deport me. During this time, through the efforts of many people, including my friends all over the world, who have written to and called officials in the Thai government, people in Thailand have had a chance to understand the true situation of Falun Gong.
I have practised Falun Gong for 8 years. Like 100 million other people in 60 countries who practise, I have greatly benefited from this wonderful practice. We exercise, meditate, study, and apply the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in our lives in society. Most of us who practise Falun Gong have in our homes information about the cruel persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Most of us want to tell other people about this persecution because we hope that when the world knows about it, it can be stopped.
To tell the facts about this persecution is exercising our human rights and freedom of belief and expression. We are not against China or any country. We only tell people the terrible things that Jiang Zemin and a few others have done against humanity.
My husband and I have lived in Thailand for substantial parts of the last three years. On April 29th, five policemen took me away as well as my husband, and all my materials about Falun Gong. My husband was questioned and released that day. I was not questioned, but they went through my materials. Police said that because of these materials, my visa would be revoked, I would be deported and I would be detained until I had a return ticket to Sweden. I appealed against this decision.
That day, April 29th, was the day that the Chinese premier was visiting Thailand for a conference about SARS. This is no coincidence. I want to say very clearly that I understand that the Chinese embassy is behind my detention. Chinese diplomats and agents in many countries pressure and threaten governments and private citizens about Falun Gong. This has been documented by governments, NGOs, and international media.
I have done nothing against Thailand or any country. I have obeyed all laws and have not been charged with any crime. I have been waiting 5 weeks for my appeal to be heard, but on Tuesday the Thai government decided not to consider my appeal.
I hope that the Thai government will, from now on, make better decisions about Falun Gong, and not take such actions that violate human rights in the future.
I want to thank the Swedish Foreign Ministry, Ambassador and Embassy staff in Thailand for their help and for standing up strongly for human rights, I thank all kind hearted people in Sweden and the world who signed their name on a petition for me, thanks to the NGOs and politicians who supported me. I would also like to thank my friends, my family, my husband and my colleagues who have been worried about me.
No matter how I have been suffering during my detention here, I know that it is nothing compared to how terribly my friends in China are suffering in detention in labour camps. I wish that more people will know the true facts about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. I am even more determined now to help my fellow practitioners in China to the best of my abilities. I hope together we can stop this senseless persecution soon.
Posting date: 7/June/2003
Original article date: 7/June/2003
Category: Media Reports
