Falun Gong Was the Main Topic During Discussions About China’s Human Rights Situation in the Finnish Parliament and Foreign Ministry

The seminar tour of Scandinavia regarding the current human rights situation in China was in Finland, on Thursday May the 13th 2004. Separate hearings organised by the Finnish Parliament's human rights group and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were held successfully in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. A news briefing for the media was also held.

The speakers included Falun Gong practitioner Ms Jane Dai from Australia, the Executive Director of the Association for Asian Research Mr. Erping Zhang, and Mr. Harry Wu, who is the Executive Director of both the China Information Centre and the Laogai Research Foundation. The hearing in Parliament was hosted by the chairperson of the human rights group, Ms. Ulla Anttila, and the event was open to all members of parliament.

The first speaker was Harry Wu, who spoke specifically about the Laogai prison system in China. "Laogai" means labour camp and it is a widespread prison system where people are sent to for re-education through forced labour. Mr. Wu spoke about the function of the Laogai system. At the same time as numerous products are produced for export in the labour camps, people have to give up their own thoughts, religion or personal belief. Torture and abuse are common. To clarify the facts about the Chinese labour camps, Mr. Wu explained how the Laogai is running the same way as it was thirty years ago, only the victims have changed. A lot of the people in Chinese labour camps today include innocent Falun Gong practitioners.

Mr. Erping Zhang, Executive Director of the Association for Asian Research, explained in detail the reasons for the ban of Falun Gong. The persecution of Falun Gong is the most severe human rights violation in China and it is targeted directly at approximately 100 million Chinese citizens. In addition, many levels of the Chinese society have been mobilised to participate in persecuting Falun Gong. Even a special office called the “610 Office" was established for the purpose of following Jiang Zemin’s orders to “eradicate Falun Gong.” The “610” office is very similar to the Gestapo. As a former Chinese Government official, Mr. Zhang explained how the Chinese Government supported Falun Gong for seven years after its introduction, but in July 1999 due to the increasing popularity of the practice, Chinese leader Jiang Zemin personally banned Falun Gong and launched a persecutory campaign against its followers.

As a victim of the human rights violations in China, Ms Jane Dai from Australia discussed her personal experience. Her family fell apart when her husband Mr Chen Chengyong was killed while in police custody because he didn’t renounce his belief and support for Falun Gong. Dai was left alone to take care of their then eight-month old daughter Fadu. Also, Ms Dai's other family members who practise Falun Gong have been persecuted in China. The speech touched the members of the parliament.

A representative from the Finnish Falun Dafa Association also gave a speech. He explained more about the practice of Falun Gong and about the peaceful resistance to the persecution. The parliament members said that they are very aware of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. The chairperson of the human rights group said that she is not afraid to speak out about China’s human rights with anyone, and she had taken up the issue of human rights at meetings with Chinese Government officials. She had also sent an appeal to Jiang Zemin demanding the end of the persecution of Falun Gong.

Member of parliament Mr Kimmo Sasi asked about the improvement of the human rights situation in China. A general answer was that the situation is getting worse. Mr. Zhang gave media censorship as an example , which has resulted in the blocking of Internet sites such as foreign media, universities, and search engines. An “Internet Police” has been established to monitor users. For instance by typing the words 'Falun Gong' into an Internet café website, one may face a prison term.

Before the hearing in the Parliament House, a smaller meeting was also held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The representatives from the human rights unit and the unit for Asian and Oceania, as well as the Team leader for Chinese Affairs, welcomed the guests.

The atmosphere in the meeting was friendly and warm. The people from the foreign ministry were grateful for this opportunity to meet experts on the Chinese situation and they regarded the information very important. Finland is focused on improving the international human rights situation mainly through the EU, but they keep an eye on the situation in China very closely. The team leader for Chinese Affairs kind-heartedly thanked all the guests individually by expressing her respect for their determination and courage in exposing the human rights atrocities in China. At the end of the meeting she said, “Keep on doing what your are doing, because it is of great value.”