Taiwan: Representatives of the National Association of Lawyers Co-Sign a Resolution Supporting the Lawsuits Against Jiang Zemin

The National Association of Lawyers, the largest lawyers association in Taiwan, held a conference on September 7. Nineteen conference delegates co-signed a resolution to appeal for a stop to the persecution of Falun Gong and to support worldwide legal initiatives to bring Jiang Zemin to justice.

The resolution appeals to "Chinese government officials headed by Jiang Zemin, Chairman of the Military Committee of People's Republic of China, to stop the cruel persecution of Falun Gong and to respect human rights." It also expresses understanding and support of lawsuits that work toward ceasing the suppression of Falun Gong practitioners' freedoms of public assembly and belief.

An addendum to the resolution clarifies the truth by stating the following points: According to the reports of human rights organisations, such as the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations and Amnesty International from 2000 to 2003, since the crackdown of Falun Gong began, under the direction of Jiang Zemin, Chairman of the Military Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the number of Falun Gong practitioners being illegally detained, tortured to death, sent to labour camps, and mental hospitals, or forced to leave home and wander about in order to avoid further persecution, has exceeded 10,000. The number of people that have either died, or were severely hurt, from torture, is still soaring. The persecution of Falun Gong in China has become a human rights issue receiving world's attention. The above mentioned human rights organisations, the Congress of the United States, the Canadian government, and Geneva have all passed resolutions, calling for an end to the cruel persecution.

Recently, Falun Gong practitioners have filed lawsuits in the United States and Belgium charging Jiang Zemin and high-ranking officials in the Chinese Communist Party with severe human rights violations.

The resolution states that human rights, as universal values, go beyond borders. It also expresses understanding and support of Falun Gong practitioners' firmness in their beliefs. In addition, it recognises practitioners' courage in filing the lawsuits and in their many appeals.

Among the lawyers who co-signed the resolution is Wei Qianfeng, Vice President of Human Rights Promotion Committee in Taiwan. He said in his speech, in supporting the resolution, "I think it necessary for us to take this opportunity to express our support from the legal community in Taiwan to the Falun Gong people."

Guo Linyong, Secretary of the National Association, also expressed to Falun Gong practitioners his support of the resolution before the conference. He said, "At this time, who would object to topics and values related to justice, conscience, and human rights? Of course we will support the resolution."

The resolution will be submitted to the executive council of the Association for final discussion.