Japan: Practitioners Hold Press Conference in Front of the French Embassy

Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the French Embassy in Japan for two days on February 5-6, 2004. They unfolded banners reading "Request the French authorities to give apologies to Falun Gong practitioners" and "Falun Dafa is great" and other banners in both Chinese and French, urging the French government to immediately investigate the arrest incident in Paris, resist the interference and economic enticement from the Jiang's group, and stop similar incidents of violating Falun Gong practitioners' human rights from recurring.

Falun Gong practitioners unfold banners reading "Request the French authorities to give apologies to Falun Gong practitioners" and "Falun Dafa is great" in both Chinese and French

On February 6, the chairman of the Japanese Falun Dafa Association delivered a public letter and related information to the French Ambassador in Japan. He expressed that France is an advanced country that upholds human rights and freedom; it is really regrettable that the French police arbitrarily arrested Falun Gong practitioners. It is well known that human rights are trampled in China, and chief criminal Jiang Zemin is condemned by people around the world for his acts of persecution. This time, a few individuals among the French authorities were enticed by temporary economic interests, and cooperated with Jiang's orders. They gave up their principles and violated human rights, putting handcuffs on innocent Falun Gong practitioners. All this is unbelievable. The French government should take this thing into serious consideration, and stop similar incidents from recurring. The French Embassy officials expressed that they would report the request to their country as soon as possible.

After that, the practitioners held a press conference outside the French Embassy. Falun Gong practitioners stated that while the Chinese leader Hu Jintao was visiting in Paris, on January 28, a few individuals in the French government, affected by the Jiang regime's rumours and enticed by economic interests, ordered the police to arrest dozens of Falun Gong practitioners from various countries. This helped Jiang's regime to extend the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners to France. The incident seriously damaged the fundamental principles of France, namely, "Freedom, Equality and Fraternity." We hope the French government can immediately investigate the cause of the incident, correct the error of violating human rights, redeem the damage and spiritual harm to Falun Gong practitioners, and make up for the adverse influence of damaging democracy and human rights brought to France.