Romania: A letter from Artist Zhang Cuiying

I am an Australian painter, who holds exhibitions all over the world. I have exhibited my paintings in over 40 countries and more than 100 cities. I have held exhibitions in the United States Congress Hall, the European Parliament, Canada and New Zealand. Governors and Mayors have been to view the art exhibitions and I have received strong support, encouragement and even free promotion from people in various countries.

I was recently invited to Romania to hold an exhibition and introduce Chinese painting and art to the people here. I never expected that the Chinese government would harass me in front of the media and the public, without any dignity or decorum. I feel sorry and ashamed for these overseas representatives who act on behalf of the Chinese government.

Seven years ago, I lost my painting ability because of arthritis. Whilst I struggled on the edge of death, I obtained Falun Gong. Falun Gong at once renewed my health as if by magic. Therefore, I appeal against the Jiang regime’s suppression of Falun Gong.

Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, asks people to follow “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance". Since first coming to the public in 1992, Falun Dafa has spread throughout the entire Chinese nation by word of mouth; now more than one hundred million people in 60 countries practise Falun Gong.

Because there were over one hundred million people practising Falun Gong, Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin was afraid that this threatened the power of the Communist regime. In July 1999, he declared this peaceful practice illegal. He used lies to turn public opinion against Falun Dafa, and imprisoned, tortured and even murdered Falun Gong practitioners, including an eight month old baby and many elderly people. Since the persecution against Falun Gong began in China, the number of verified deaths has reached 636. However, according to the government’s official figures, the killings have surpassed 1,600 people. Over one hundred thousand people have been sent to labour camps without trial. I was once illegally imprisoned by Jiang Zemin for eight months and I experienced appalling suffering, torture and slave labour. I was even thrown into male prison cells.

Chinese terrorist dictator Jiang Zemin and his agents have already been the recipients of lawsuits in several countries because of the atrocities they have committed against Falun Gong practitioners and their violations of human rights. One lawsuit has been submitted to the International Criminal Court. If Jiang Zemin steps into any of the countries that have filed these lawsuits, legal proceedings will begin.

Thank you for reading this letter. I truly hope that the Romanian government persist in respecting human rights, democracy, justice and freedom, and resist pressure from a political power bent on the suppression of goodness. Next Monday, I will still be holding an art exhibition in this lovely country of Romania. I sincerely invite you to come.

Yours sincerely,

Zhang Cuiying
April 5^th 2003

Chinese version available at http://www.yuanmingeurope.net/articles/200304/19053.html