UK: Symbolic Trial of Jiang Held Outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London

Bringing Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin to justice under the rule of law for the persecution of Falun Gong is not simply an ideological notion or symbolic gesture. It is a future concrete reality which will come to life through the rational and correct application of existing international laws. It is the inevitable consequence as people of conscience around the world come to understand the nature of Jiang’s personal campaign of Genocide. On April 24th 2004, UK Falun Gong practitioners held a Symbolic Public Trial of Jiang in front of the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The purpose was to demonstrate the reality of bringing Jiang to justice through legal means, to add weight to the lawsuits already in process around the world and to gain momentum in the preparations of a lawsuit in the UK. The trial was also powerful means to demonstrate that Jiang’s Genocide against Falun Gong can be identified and proven in a courtroom setting, and also offered a great opportunity to inform many more people of the persecution still unfolding in China.

The day was beautiful; a warm spring day with clear blue skies and a light breeze. The ornate and grand architecture of the Royal Courts offered a suitably elegant and dignified setting for the occasion. The atmosphere was serious and dignified. Passers-by stopped to listen, to take leaflets, to read the banners and to talk with practitioners. Tourists on passing open-top buses turned their attention to the spectacle as the passed by. The announcer on a bus could be heard reading out the banners over the microphone.

Although the event was a symbolic one, the story of Jiang’s personal crusade against Falun Gong needed no dramatisation to be compelling. The testimonies of the trial, all factual and evidenced, unveiled the shocking story of how the jealousy and political motives of one man had led to the persecution of millions of innocent victims. The trial, through a realistic courtroom format and process of cross-examination systematically exposed how Jiang had used the Communist Party as a weapon in his personal attempt to crush Falun Gong and eradicate it. The lies and the deceit were exposed one by one, revealing the almost unbelievable truth of how Jiang had turned the Ruling Party against Falun Gong and forced the people of China to persecute their fellow countrymen simply because of his own personal vendetta.

The final testimony of the trial was given by a Mr. He Bin, a resident of London, who recounted the real-life story of how he was persecuted at the hands of Chinese police in detention centres. His moving story not only exposed the brutalities, horror, and suffering, but also showed the dignity and courage of those who practice Falun Gong; so many have risked so much to uphold their belief in the principles of truthfulness, compassion, forbearance.

Before and after the event, practitioners performed the exercises of Falun Gong, generating a peaceful and serene atmosphere with the slow, gentle movements of the exercises.

The opportunity to use this trial to clarify the facts of the persecution and to focus on demonstrating Jiang’s guilt to the legal community was not missed. For the week before the symbolic trial, practitioners handed out leaflets each day in front of the Royal Court, amidst the coming and going of Barristers, solicitors, court officials etc. The leaflets promoted the trial event and exposed Jiang’s personal crusade against Falun Gong and explained about the 19 lawsuits which have been filed against Jiang in the last 2 years