Statement of Support by Member of Czech Parliament Jaroslav Zverina

Mr Jaroslav Zverina sent the following statement of support to a Falun Gong press conference in Prague's Krizovnicke Square on the 26th June 2004, which was the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture:

One of the original curses of mankind is its predisposition to violence. Human beings, like their subhuman relatives, can be very cruel not only to their real enemies, but to their presumed ones as well. The essence of cruelty is continuously censored by mankind’s culture as inhuman and immoral. Unfortunately this cultural influence never applies universally and perfectly. Too often people allow themselves to be seduced into aggressive behaviour toward their fellow man.

The tragedy is that people don’t deal with their real enemies but are cruel to others who don’t harm them and are in fact just the opposite: those who believe in truthfulness, kindness and rational contemplation. Among such tragic manifestations is the persecution and torture of Falun Gong practitioners by the present Chinese Communist regime. I have come to understand the teachings of this movement, I think quite well, and I can hardly imagine what has caused the ruling regime’s hatred.

I would like to believe that one day we will all wake up to a world without violence, terrorism and ideological repression. Equality for all in the eyes of the law and human freedom are basic democratic values. Let us remember them especially today when we take our stand against torture and political ill will.

Jaroslav Zverina
Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic and Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Matters of the European Union