Practitioner's Appeal to US Secretary of State for Help in the Release of Charles Li

February 25, 2003

Dear Mr. Powell:

My heart is greatly troubled as I write this letter to you.

Right now a dear friend of mine, an American citizen, Dr. Charles Li, is imprisoned in a jail in Yangzhou, China, for no other reason than practising a peaceful spiritual practise, Falun Gong. I cannot stop thinking what type of torture my friend may be subjected to right now. China's prisons have reinstated the tortures perpetrated on the citizenry during the Cultural Revolution. Falun Gong practitioners are exposed to unimaginable and inhuman terror. I have grave concerns for the safety of Dr. Li.

I befriended Dr. Charles Li at a Falun Gong cultivation experience sharing conference. He impressed me as a quiet, trustworthy, and Honourable man. Yet, such a nice man as Dr. Li, was unlawfully arrested upon his arrival at the Guangzhou Airport.

Three years ago when the Jiang regime began to persecute Falun Gong, I visited the National Appeal Bureau to clarify the truth about Falun Gong [The National Appeal Bureau is an autonomous government agency in China, which is independent from all executive and legislative agencies. It was established as an open public forum, where every Chinese citizen may seek justice against unfairness perpetrated by the existing executive or legislative administration]. Instead of finding redress of my grievances, I was arrested twice, just for exercising the right of a Chinese citizen to appeal to the National Appeal Bureau. During the detention I had to endure hunger and brutal interrogations, as well as constant violence and threats. It was also during the interrogations that I experienced for the first time that the Chinese policemen would not hesitate to tell vicious lies to change my thinking. I felt violated, as well as physically and mentally abused by the Chinese police. Many of my fellow practitioners from Beijing are now either locked up in concentration camps or forced to endure the most inhuman torture. Others are either destitute or homeless so they may escape the brutal persecution. As a Falun Gong practitioner who was fortunate enough to escape the persecution after having experienced first-hand brutality, I am certain that there are no laws or justice in China for Falun Gong practitioners.

Please understand the implication of Dr. Charles Li's arrest by the Chinese police on arrival at the Guangzhou Airport! It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Chinese government has been collecting names of overseas Falun Gong practitioners, including western Falun Gong practitioners, through its embassies, consulates, and an enormous network of spies and special agents. I am speaking from experience, as I have been subjected to threats in a number of ways. My phone has been tapped and my conversations with fellow practitioners have been played back on my answering machine. My car had been smashed, and a giant rock was placed on top of my car as a threat. All of this has happened on US soil.

Keeping the appalling behaviours of the Chinese government's agents in mind, I believe that you would agree with me that Dr. Li's unlawful arrest, the arrest of an American citizen, could be seen as kidnapping by the members of a gang. It is most horrifying to know that American citizens' rights were not protected on foreign soil, and American citizens are now subject to cruelty and blatant disregard for human rights in China.

I am proud of America, a country that stands for liberty and human rights. Now, the Chinese government disregards these principles that are the cornerstones of America. It is unbelievable that a government that dares to terrorise its own people now also threatens American citizens. We have to break our silent acquiescence and uphold justice immediately.

Dr. Li's fiancée, Ms. Fu, is a very lovely but determined young woman, doing everything in her power to rescue Dr. Charles Li. I understand her pain and I am deeply moved by her determination and conviction.

I hope my voice of concern has touched your heart. I hope that you can find it in yourself to do whatever is in your power to help rescue Dr. Charles Li.

Please bring back Dr. Charles Li without delay. Please help us to end the brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

My most sincere thanks for everything you have done to uphold justice, peace, and order.

Sincerely,

Cathy Jin