Italy: Practitioners are Invited to Explain the Facts About the Persecution at an International Human Rights Conference in Rome

On February the 13th and 14th 2004, the well-known Italian human rights organisation “Hands Off Cain” hosted an international human rights conference concerning the abolishment of capital punishment. Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhang Erping was invited to explain the facts of the persecution against Falun Gong in China and to participate in the press conference.

When talking about the persecution that Falun Gong practitioners in China are subjected to, Mr. Zhang cited some specific cases. For example, how a judge in Jiangxi province named Huang Jinchun had been unlawfully arrested and injected with poisonous drugs; how a farmer in Shandong province named Zhao Jinhua was persecuted to death and his body cremated in an attempt to destroy any evidence of torture; how a thirty one year old pregnant woman underwent a forced abortion etc..

Mr. Zhang stated that in such a society full of corruption and distrust, Falun Gong represents purity and beauty. Falun Gong is a traditional cultivation method deeply rooted in ancient Chinese culture, teaching people to live their lives by the universal principle of ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,’ guiding people toward a path to peace and wisdom. Falun Gong has spread through word of mouth, from the heart and through voluntary teaching in the parks where it is practised. As well as the benefits it brings to physical health, Falun Gong’s traditional values and spirit have attracted more people. Though we do not have any religious rituals, we have the same goal as many of the worldwide religions, that is, to become spiritually enlightened and better beings. Just because Falun Gong attracted seventy to one hundred million people, including many high-ranking officials in China, the former Chinese leader felt threatened and launched this meaningless persecution.

Finally, he called on the international community to continue focusing on the persecution and demanded that the Jiang regime stop the persecution, which is causing so much harm to the state and its people. He emphasised once more that Falun Gong has no political appeal and is not against any government. Human history has proved that the evil will never overwhelm the righteous. We know that in the near future people will witness the coming of this day.

Among the participants of the conference were: Emma Bonino, Marco Pannella Marco Cappato (MEPs,) the ambassador of the Mari Republic, the EU representative in Africa, Italian MPs and members of Regional Parliaments, the representative of the Canadian embassy, MPs from Nigeria and Kenya, the former Illinois Governor Mr. George Ryan, the vice Minister of Justice of the Ghana Republic, the representative of the Italian NGO, “No Justice and No Peace,” the representative of the Radical Party in New York UN headquarters, members of the Brazilian Council of Human Rights Affairs Advisers , representatives of Italian human rights organisations.