Belgium: Statement of Support from a Member of the European Parliament on April 25

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a member of the European parliament and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I feel very sad to witness this fourth anniversary of the "April 25th incident".

For a long time, I have been following the Human Rights situation in China and the extremely harsh repression the Chinese regime is using against Falun Gong practitioners who cultivate "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance". For me, condemning "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" is telling people that they are not allowed to be good and blatantly opposes common moral standards. Arresting and beating people who cultivate "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" is declaring good people as guilty.

Today, I want to express my solidarity, together with the Belgian Falun Gong practitioners, to commemorate "the April 25th Appeal", and to further expose the recent crimes and interferences by the Chinese regime against Falun Gong practitioners.

Thus, I strongly appeal to the Chinese regime:

1) To immediately stop the torture and murder of Falun Gong practitioners.

2) To promptly release all Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese prisons, labour camps and mental hospitals.

3) To fully respect, not only Chinese law, but European and International laws and human rights as well.

Thank you very much for listening.

Nelly Maes
Member of the European Parliament (MEP)