Three Irish Government Councils Unanimously Pass Motion Demanding an End to the Ongoing Persecution of Falun Dafa Practitioners in China

On February the 9th 2004, Fingal County Council, Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council, representing three quarters of the capital city of Ireland, unanimously passed a motion which strongly condemned the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. The motion read:

“This County Council calls on the Government to use its position as Chair of the EU - China Human Rights Dialogue taking place in Dublin this month, to demand that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China is ended and all prisoners immediately released. In particular that pressure would be put on to secure the return of Dun Laoghaire students, Liu Feng and Yang Fang, to complete their studies in Ireland and that this motion would be brought to the attention of the Minister.”

This motion was fully supported by all members of the Council, including government level Members of Parliament and Senators. The councillors nominating the motions invited the local press and Irish Falun Dafa practitioners to 2 of their meetings. The practitioners were interviewed before and after the meetings. In each of the council meetings there was a lively debate condemning the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. In one meeting 7 members of the council stood up in turn to share their understanding of Falun Dafa and what the council should do to help end the human rights violations in China as soon as possible. A number of actions where implemented by the councils:

• Forward the motion to the Premier, Foreign Affairs Minister and Chinese Ambassador to Ireland.


• Forward the motion to all local universities so they can be aware of what is happening to Liu Feng and Yang Fang.


• Rethink links with China to do with trade and twinning of cities.

At the end of one meeting, the Mayor stood up and said he strongly supported the motion and condemned the persecution. Chinese media also covered the council meeting. New Tang Dynasty TV interviewed council members and members of the Irish Falun Dafa Association. The Chinese newspaper The Epoch Times also had a reporter present reporting the event.

Irish Falun Dafa practitioners sincerely thank the council members for their support and encouraging actions.