Letter from the Swedish Falun Dafa Association to the Authorities in Burma

Senior General Than Shwe, chairman Prime Minister, minister of Defence
State Peace and Development Council
Ministry of Defence
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar

Dear General,

First we would like to congratulate Myanmar for having such fine traditions like the Htamane festival this month where the people of all ages rejoice, socialise and take pleasure in making and enjoying good food together.

However, we are writing to you with concerns about Mr. Chan Wing Yuen, a 71-year-old resident of Hong Kong and a Falun Gong practitioner who was secretly sentenced to 7 years in prison in January 2002. He should also be allowed to share the joys of the festival instead of being locked up in jail.

Mr. Chan was visiting his family in Myanmar during the holiday season about a year ago. When he learned that Jiang Zemin was scheduled to visit Myanmar, he stood quietly by the side of a Yangon road and unfolded a small yellow banner that read "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance". Mr. Chan did not harm anyone, he did not threaten anyone, and he did not cause damage to anything around him. Even though he is an old man, compassion gave him the strength to care for people who are suffering in China. In Europe we would have applauded and respected him. Why is he sentenced to prison for 7 years?

Is it the case that you and the Myanmar government have been deceived by the Chinese regime into participating in this extremely serious human rights violation? The truth is that due to jealousy and fear, Jiang abuses his power by using enormous state resources to fabricate and spread rumours about Falun Gong practitioners. We are also aware that Jiang's regime has been pressuring countries around the world through its embassies or consulates to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. Please do not be pressured to participate in it!

Myanmar officials have undoubtedly also received the fabricated information about Falun Gong that Jiang Zemin and his men have been distributing. Therefore, we would like to tell you in a few words what Falun Gong really is.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient form of qigong from China. The practice consists of gentle exercises, meditation and self-improvement studies. We abide by the principles of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. As such we are good people and citizens. Since the introduction to the general public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi, this peaceful practice has attracted and benefited more than 100 million people in over 60 countries. Every country would benefit from having Falun Dafa in its society. In Europe many people treasure the profoundness of its moral teachings.

The international community is closely watching Jiang’s genocide and the crimes committed against Falun Gong practitioners are being well documented. Jiang Zemin and his men have killed more than 550 innocent Falun Gong practitioners. Thousands are being sent to labour camps all over the country. The European Union is fully aware of the situation. Many international organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have released their own reports that testify that Falun Gong practitioners are subjected to abuse in mental hospitals, barbaric torture of all kinds, rape and even homicide. In fact, lawsuits have already been filed in both Europe and the United States to bring Jiang Zemin and his accomplices to justice in the near future.

Myanmar should not participate in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

We sincerely hope that the Myanmar government will investigate Mr. Chan’s case immediately. Please take corrective measures and see to that Mr. Chan is being treated well and returned to his anxious family. We are hopeful that he will have the strength to participate in the Htamane festival this year.

We hope that the Myanmar Government could stand up to the pressure from Jiang’s regime, and be supportive of the values of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance by which Falun Gong practitioners abide, and truly progress towards respecting the rights to freedom of conscience, expression, and association.

Yours sincerely,

The Swedish Falun Dafa Association

via Dan Alfjorden (chairman)