Media Summary: The Shooting Incident in South Africa Draws Attention from Media around the World

Falun Dafa Information Centre reported on July 2, 2004 that the terrorist shooting incident in South Africa on June 28 has drawn media attention from around the world.

Pretoria News reported on June 30, "A member of China's banned Falun Gong movement has been shot in a Johannesburg drive-by attack.

The group claims the Chinese government is responsible.

Nine Australia-based members of the group, which has claimed it is the subject of persecution and human rights abuses in China, entered the country on Monday on a trip coinciding with the official visit to South Africa by Chinese vice-president Zeng Qinghong and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai.

Their purpose was to protest outside SA-China Binational Commission meetings and to launch a lawsuit alleging human rights abuses and torture against the Chinese government, in terms of international human rights law - a routine Falun Gong tactic around the world.

Ironically, after the two countries signed several agreements yesterday, Zeng thanked South Africa for recently blocking a United Nations debate into China's human rights record."

The report further states, "Speaking from his bed in Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital yesterday, Liang said: 'Our attackers just accosted us and in the process started to fire several shots. I was surprised when I saw these people driving at high speed like us.'

'When I slowed down, they would also slow down,' said Liang.

'We did not see them, but we think that the vice-president and the minister have hired people to kill us.'

'After shooting at us, they did not rob us and simply sped away. We are sure the Chinese government is involved,' said Liang."

China Times report on July 1 from Taipei -- During Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong's official visit to South Africa on June 28, the vehicle driven by Falun Gong practitioner David Liang, who went to South Africa to attend a peaceful appeal, encountered a drive-by shooting. Liang was injured in both feet, with one foot fractured. He was the only one shot and the only one in the vehicle who wore clothing imprinted with the words "Falun Dafa." Taiwan Falun Dafa Association condemned the Chinese government for this act of violence. This was also the first time that Falun Gong practitioners were shot outside China.

On the morning of June 29, Radio France International broadcast the following report in Mandarin to listeners in the Greater Paris area, as well as mainland China: Falun Gong Believes that Chinese Government Is Responsible in the Drive-by Shooting in South Africa.

AFP reported on June 29 from Johannesburg …quot; "A member of the outlawed Falungong movement in China was shot and wounded on Monday in a drive-by shooting in South Africa where Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong is currently on a three-day visit, police said on Tuesday."

"The movement issued a media statement on the Internet on Tuesday, saying their members went to South Africa to protest against the "persecution of Falungong" by Vice President Zeng and his Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai."

Radio Free Asia's special correspondent reported in Germany on June 29, "Ms. Zheng: 'After the incident, Falun Gong practitioners briefly informed governments of different countries. They also related the story to the media. I personally have been interviewed by some media outlets in Germany. They are all very concerned about this incident, especially the role played by the Chinese government in the incident.'"

"Ms. Zheng pointed out that Zeng Qinghong and Bo Xilai attempted to use this kind of terrorist act to frighten Falun Gong practitioners and prevent them from protesting them. However, its result was just the opposite. They enraged the international society and human rights organizations from different countries. Their future state visits will definitely encounter much stronger opposition."

Voice of America reported on June 30 that the Jiang regime's suppression of Falun Gong has aroused intensive attention and condemnation. In recent years, Falun Gong practitioners have adopted using the legal system as a means to protest. Over the past few years, several Chinese high-ranking officials were served [legal papers] by Falun Gong practitioners during their visit to western countries.

The VOA report stated that the Australian Falun Gong practitioners who came to South Africa had planned to file a lawsuit against Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong. Apparently, that was also part of the effort of Falun Gong practitioners' protest against the Jiang regime.

Central News Agency reported on June 30, "Falun Gong spokesperson Leon Wang said to the South Africa News Agency, 'They were forced to stop on [the] road side because of [a] flat tire. It was strange that the gunman stopped and watched the practitioners in the car, but did not rob anything. They believe that the gunman was hired by Chinese regime because they don't have any enemy in South Africa.'"

"Leon Wang said, 'Australian Falun Gong practitioners come to South Africa to file lawsuit against Zeng Qinghong and Bo Xilai, which is a part of global effort of Falun Gong practitioners, because Zeng and Bo persecute Falun Gong.'"

Central News Agency reported on the same day with photos, "Falun Gong practitioner was shot in South Africa. Director of Falun Dafa Association in Canada Li Xun (right) and practitioner representative on June 29 (local time) went to the South Africa Embassy to appeal and handed in an appeal letter to the South African Government. The letter was received by the ambassador."

News24, South Africa reported on June 30 that Senior Superintendent Selby Bokaba said on Wednesday, "We (police) are investigating attempted murder."