Statement of Support from the Liberal Party in Skellefteå, Sweden

29th of July, 2001

Debate the crimes against human rights in China!

The crimes against human rights in China unfortunately seemed to have increased in number. Harassment, torture and censorship are common for those who are at a variance with the regime in Beijing. Moreover, year after year China beats the world record in the number of executions. The possibility to freely exercise one’s religion is strictly limited. Catholics report on systematic harassment. In Tibet, oppression of the Tibetan people, not least of Tibetan monks, continues. Torture, re-education camps and imprisonment under unacceptable conditions are rather the rule than the exception.

The Chinese regime’s systematic harassment of the Falun Gong meditation movement continues. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested and several hundred have died in custody. Countless testimonies exist about torture and acts of cruelty by the police and authorities. In Heilongjiang alone, the Chinese ”friendship-province” of Vasterbotten [a Swedish province], twenty- five practitioners have been killed during the last couple of weeks.

It is appalling when people who devote themselves to exercises which strengthen body and mind are being persecuted. The explanation for the persecution is probably to be found in the fact that the regime is not able to control Falun Gong. That is typical in a totalitarian system.

We join the protests against the murders and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. At the same time, we want to express our support for those practitioners who continue their struggle in China.

We also think that a more intensive debate about China’s crimes against human rights is needed. All the good forces have to co-operate in order to intensify the pressure on China in these issues. For the local authorities of Skelleftea, that is first and foremost a question when it comes to the contact with the ”friendship town” of Tonglin and the ”friendship province” of Heilongjiang.

Representatives of the Liberal Party in Skelleftea:

Hakan Lindh (LP), Opposition Council
Lars Ahman (LP), Member of Local Council