Belgium: Falun Gong Practitioners Peacefully Appeal and Request the Trial of Jiang Zemin and Bo Xilai

On the 6th of May, Falun Gong practitioners went to the Sheraton hotel, where the EU-China trade forum was held, to continue appealing peacefully and requesting the trial of one of the main culprits in the persecution Falun Gong, Bo Xilai.

For two days, the Belgian police gave full support to Falun Gong practitioners. They clearly expressed that they are aware that the practitioners have always been very peaceful. Falun Gong is the only group allowed to hold any activities during the Chinese delegation's visit.

The practitioners pointed out to the EU officials, the Belgian Government, the media and the public, that Bo Xilai, one of the Chinese delegation taking part in this visit is presently being sued in Germany and the US for Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide and Crimes of Torture. While he was in office in Dalian and Liaoning province, he actively participated in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, resulting in Liaoning being one of the provinces where the persecution of practitioners is the most severe. Hundreds of practitioners were verified as tortured to death. Masanjia labour camp situated in Dalian became notorious for its brutal persecution of practitioners. No democratic country and its people should accept a visitor with such a terrible human rights record.

In view of the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to the EU and participating in the EU-China trade forum a statement jointly signed by a European MP and two Belgian senators and Falun gong practitioners expressed:

• We welcome Wen Jiabao to Europe;


• We welcome good relations between Europe and the Chinese people;


• We hope the chairman of the EU council Mr. Brody and trade representative Mr. Lame will take this opportunity to clearly and openly express the concern of the European Parliament and its people towards the persecution of Falun gong in China to Mr. Wen Jiabao and the Chinese Government;


• We hope members of the EU-China trade forum will take this opportunity to express clearly and openly to Mr. Wen Jiabao and their trade partners the concern of the European people for the persecution of Falun Gong in China and its human rights situation;


• We hope that the participants in this EU-China trade forum will place importance on improving human rights and moral standards while carrying trade with China and other areas of international collaboration;


• We hope the Chinese premier Mr. Wen Jiabao will regard bringing an end to the persecution of Falun Gong and bringing those responsible to justice as an important aspect of the work of the Chinese government.

In addition, International Amnesty and other human rights organisations actively called for the Chinese Government to improve its human rights, especially the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.