UK MEP Dr Charles Tannock wrote to the French Embassy in London to protest the mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners at a Chinese/French jointly sponsored event after the Chinese authorities applied pressure on the French Government.
Mr Tannock said in his letter to Ambassador Errera of France, “I am writing as a European Parliamentary Friend of Falun Gong to protest the arrest and handcuffing of practitioners who were peacefully demonstrating in the Champs Elysees on Saturday 24th January. There are serious allegations that this was done at the request of the Chinese Embassy. France as a member of the EU and the Council of Europe is committed to the fundamental right of peaceful political protest. I find the allegations of giving in to pressure from the Chinese authorities anxious to deny any platform to protesters during the parade deeply regrettable. I do hope that the request by Falun Gong for an apology from the French authorities will be shortly forthcoming.”
A copy of the letter is enclosed.
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