Germany: Letter from the Falun Dafa Association to the Foreign Minister

March 3, 2003

Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany
Mr. Joschka Fischer
Foreign Ministry
Werderscher Markt 1
10117 Berlin

Honourable Minister,
Dear Mr. Fischer:

HUMAN RIGHTS ALSO FOR FALUN GONG IN CHINA!

German Falun Gong practitioners will appeal between March 3 and 7 2003 in front of the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, regarding the theme mentioned above. We wish to support through this action, before the UN Human Rights session convenes on March 17th in Geneva, the initiative regarding the protection of human rights by the Federal Republic.

We understand and recognise that the federal government has advocated repeatedly the compliance to human rights laws in China. Unfortunately, Falun Gong still bears the brunt of a brutal persecution. Sadly, the Chinese regime has set itself the goal of total elimination of Falun Gong.

It is our most sincere wish, given the injustice perpetrated on individuals and the millions of Falun Gong Practitioners in China, that the Federal Republic does its utmost towards ending the persecution of Falun Gong in China. What we are trying to say is that China should not only be a signatory to the UN Human Rights Charter, but should also be in compliance with this charter.

This unfortunate situation in China requires special measures. In particular, we wish you to address, in a report to the UN, specific defamation cases, such as the staged tragedy of the Tiananmen self-immolation on January 23 2001, which served as a focal point for the infamous slander of Falun Gong.

We also request that the Federal government will be active in deterring the Hong Kong government to approve final legislation of the pending Article 23 of the Basic Law, under which it intends to persecute Falun Gong. The introduction of Article 23 in the SAR Hong Kong, the so-called anti-subversion law, represents a direct threat to those practising Falun Gong, as well as to those groups that are unauthorised by Beijing, which exist in the still “free“ Hong Kong.

Recently, the Chinese government has even arrested visiting foreign practitioners, as well as Chinese practitioners residing in a foreign country who were visiting family members. This terror is insidious. Your office knows of individual cases. We initiated an international rescue effort, which requires urgent support by the international community.

We are asking the Federal Government to request the unconditional release of all Falun Gong practitioners in China during discussions with the Chinese Regime. We hope that as long as even one practitioner is held by force, the Federal Republic will spare no efforts in their rescue from the brutal labour camps and prisons in China.

Dear Sir, we hope that you will be successful in this undertaking and achieve peace on earth.

On behalf of German Falun Gong Practitioners,

Sincerely,

German Falun Dafa Association