RFA: International Human Rights Association Passes a Resolution Condemning the Chinese Government's Human Rights Abuses

The annual general meeting of the International Human Rights Association, which is based in Germany, was held in Frankfurt. The focus was on safeguarding and examining the essence of freedom. Ms. Emily Lau, a Hong Kong Legislative councillor, Mr. Harry Wu, a Chinese human rights activist, as well as Falun Gong practitioners who have suffered persecution were invited to address the meeting. The annual general meeting passed a resolution condemning the Chinese Government's human rights abuses. The following report is based on German reporter Tian Yi’s broadcast for Radio Free Asia.

On April 3rd and 4th, the annual general meeting of the German based International Human Rights Association was held in Frankfurt, central Germany. Several representatives from China and Hong Kong were invited to attend to report on China's human rights situation. Ms Zheng Zhihong, a law scholar from Zhejiang University who lives in Germany, also attended the meeting. On Sunday, when the meeting was still being held, Ms Zheng discussed the meeting with the reporter.

“We are attending the 2004 annual general meeting of the German based International Human Rights Association. Those invited to attend are members of the German based Human Rights Association, human rights organisations and the persecuted groups. The annual meeting focuses on the topic of examining the essence of freedom and safeguarding freedom. The meeting lasted for two days.

Regarding the content of the first-day meeting, Ms Zheng gave an introduction. "In the morning, Ms Emily Lau, a Hong Kong Legislative councillor, and Mr. Harry Wu, China's renowned human rights activist, gave reports about Hong Kong and China's labour reformation. In the afternoon, Falun Gong practitioners, who were representative of the persecuted group in China, were invited as witnesses to describe the persecution of their relatives and friends due their practice of Falun Gong. Within the German based International Human Rights Association there is a group responsible for China's affairs. The group members discussed China's human rights problems and persecution against different groups. Falun Gong practitioners also participated in their discussion and reported about the mental persecution that Falun Gong practitioners have been suffering from and about the lawsuits against the Chinese officials responsible for the persecution against Falun Gong.

At the annual meeting, the Hong Kong legislative councillor Ms Emily Lau called on European society to express concern about Hong Kong people whose human rights and freedoms are being violated. Concerning the content of the second day's meeting, Ms Zheng continued her introduction. "The annual general meeting will be attended by members of the German based International Human Rights Association to pass a resolution condemning China's human rights abuses. In addition, they will pass another resolution condemning China's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The resolution will be submitted to the German government and the EU," said Ms Zheng.

Mr. Chen Yuan who is a post-graduate student in German,y described his personal experiences of being persecuted. His mother, who is from Beijing, is in prison because of practising Falun Gong. At this time, her exact whereabouts are unknown. The International Human Rights Association expressed willingness to take all action necessary to help free his mother.