Speech from Friends of Falun Gong (Europe) at London Press Conference on 14 October

Mr John Dee from the Association of European People Supporting the Freedom of Belief of Falun Gong Practitioners in China (Friends of Falun Gong Europe) made the following speech:

We, the Friends of Falun Gong Europe, would like to express our deep concern at the persecution by the Chinese government of Falun Gong practitioners in China since July 1999. So far, nearly 300 practitioners have been tortured to death while in custody, more than 20 in the last 2 weeks alone, and many thousands more have been imprisoned without trial, and subjected to brutal mental and physical torture.

Many countries throughout the world have condemned China for its persecution, including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union, as have other institutions such as the United Nations and Amnesty International.

Following the terrible acts of terrorism which took place in America on September 11th, it is our view that the actions of the Chinese government towards Falun Gong practitioners over the last 2 years are also considered to be state terrorism. Many thousands of people's lives were directly or indirectly affected by the events of September 11th, and those acts of terrorism rightly received the severest condemnation worldwide. However the actions of China towards Falun Gong practitioners have had an equally devastating effect on those who are suffering at the hands of the brutal Jiang Zemin regime, which will stop at nothing to clamp down on innocent people who are merely exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief. These people pose no threat to any government.

The principles they follow, 'Truth, Compassion, Forbearance', should be adhered to by all human beings. Only when mankind learns to live by these moral principles can terrorism be completely eliminated from the world. No form of terrorism should be accepted, including China's actions in persecuting Falun Gong.

China has an admirable, glorious history of civilization which has given the world much to be proud of, so it should carry forward this glorious past into the future, but the persecution by the Jiang Zemin regime is destroying this proud history. In the 21st century, state terrorism is not acceptable, as China claims to be heading towards a more tolerant and civilised society.

In view of China's hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games, China should take the lead as a civilised nation by improving its human rights record without delay. The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is the severest abuse of human rights in the world today and
is the darkest page in the history of Chinese civilisation. It has blackened the name of China in its relations with all other nations on the international stage, and must stop immediately.

We therefore make these two demands on the Chinese government:

Firstly, to free Zhao Ming, a Falun Gong practitioner and student at Trinity College in Dublin, immediately.

Secondly, to release immediately all Falun Gong practitioners currently imprisoned in China and to stop the persecution forthwith.

14th October 2001