Statement from the Committee for an International Special Tribunal on the Persecution of Falun Gong

January 6, 2004

The Committee for an International Special Tribunal on the Persecution of Falun Gong was founded on December 8, 2003 in North America and it was announced to the public on January 5. This organization stated in the mission statement, "To unite the wisdom, expertise, and moral strength of the judicial and international community, as well as of the good people of courage and conviction inside China, to promote the establishment of an International Special Tribunal on the Persecution of Falun Gong as an institute of fair justice against the ongoing atrocities."

The Resolution of Establishment follows:

Whereas, conscience and moral choice are inalienable rights bestowed at birth for every person and the foundation of a secure, harmonious, and peaceful society.

Whereas, the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and the suppression of their moral and spiritual belief of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" ordered by Jiang Zemin, former head of state of the People's Republic of China, has escalated for over four years. This systematic eradication of Falun Gong through hate incitement, economic devastation, torture, and killing constitutes serious crimes against humanity and conscience.

Whereas, if Falun Gong practitioners in China refuse to give up their practice and refuse to betray their conscience they face expulsion from education and jobs, extortion, arbitrary arrest, kidnapping, public degradation and defamation, detainment, and incarceration. They suffer forced and slave labor conditions, prolonged beatings, permanent disability, mental and physical torture, psychotropic drug injections, brainwashing, rape, forced abortions, death and murder. Survivors are even forced to publicly applaud and thank their torturers.

Whereas, the persecution in China not only targets practitioners of Falun Gong, but also manipulates and attacks the conscience and moral choice of all Chinese citizens. The massive state-controlled propaganda campaign aimed at the entire Chinese society covers up the atrocities, incites hatred, and falsely justifies the oppression. These high-pressure tactics employ coercion, intimidation, and economic incentives to garner people's condemnation against Falun Gong, thereby causing them to unwittingly participate in the persecution.

Whereas, the persecution of Falun Gong even extends beyond China proper to systematically attack the conscience and moral choice of people around the world. Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide disseminate hate propaganda to all levels of government, the media, businesses, schools, libraries, and communities at large. Hate incitement and diplomatic and economic pressure are used to justify the persecution and suppress voices of condemnation. Falun Gong practitioners outside of China have suffered discrimination, threats, property damage, theft, loss of jobs, denial of privileges, and physical assault where this hate propaganda penetrates.

Whereas, the persecution expends large quantities of China's financial and human resources and imposes long-lasting damage and threat to peace and security for both Chinese society and the international community.

Whereas, in China the judiciary is not able to provide legal redress to Falun Gong practitioners; instead the judicial system is itself an integral instrument in the campaign to eradicate Falun Gong.

Whereas, the size, scope, intensity, and systematic nature of the eradication campaign indicates the need for a Special Tribunal in order to address the severity of these ongoing crimes against humanity and conscience.

Therefore, the Committee for an International Special Tribunal on the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIST) was established on December 8, 2003.

Thus CIST resolves to unite the wisdom, expertise, and moral strength of the judicial and international communities, and of the good people of courage and conviction inside China, to promote the establishment of an International Special Tribunal on the Persecution of Falun Gong as an institute of fair justice against the ongoing atrocities.