Article from "The Epoch Times": Lawsuit Against Former Communist Leader Continues, Plaintiffs Say

WASHINGTON D.C. – Falun Gong practitioners will appeal the U.S. District Court decision to dismiss a civil lawsuit against former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin for crimes against humanity and genocide, stated their attorney, Dr. Terri Marsh at a recent press conference.

It was noted that the judge did not mention the United Nations Genocide Convention in his ruling. No one can claim immunity for crimes that constitute genocide. The ruling also did not mention the International Convention Against Torture. The case against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet case has established precedent that perpetrators of torture are not protected by immunity.

The defendant, Jiang Zemin, has tried various ways to interfere with the case, including threatening to impair the relationship between the United States and China.

During Jiang’s trip to the United States last October, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois received a lawsuit filed by Falun Gong practitioners against Jiang and the “610 Office" for crimes against humanity and genocide.

The "610 Office" is a Chinese government branch established by Jiang Zemin with its sole purpose to carry out the persecution of Falun Gong.

An attorney for the plaintiffs handed the subpoena to Jiang’s security guard. The Chinese Communist government has been silent in public about the lawsuit.

According to documents submitted to the court by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. government received pressure from the Chinese government multiple times. Officials from the Chinese Embassy contacted the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government and stated that if the lawsuit was to go forward, the relationship between China and the U.S. will be endangered.

Dr. Marsh said this case was only beginning. She said the case against Pinochet was also won in an appeals court after first denied by a lower court.

Another Chinese government official, Luo Gan, who is the head of the “610 Office,” is also being sued overseas by Falun Gong practitioners for genocide. He has recently been served subpoenas in Finland, Armenia, Moldova, and Iceland.

http://english.epochtimes.com/articles/6507.html