Ireland: Vice Premier Huang Ju Under Investigation by Gardai for Conspiracy to Commit Torture

The Deputy Commissioner of the Gardai has ordered a criminal investigation of visiting Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju following a complaint made of conspiracy to commit torture with regard to Falun Gong practitioners.

The plaintiffs, claim that the Vice Premier has rigorously followed former Chairman Jiang Zemin in his campaign to eradicate Falun Gong and in doing so has violated international and Irish law specifically. Under Section 3 of the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention against Torture) Act 2000 it is a
criminal offence under Irish law to conspire to commit the offence of torture.

The Evidence

During his tenure as Head of the Municipal Committee in Shanghai, details of 6 Falun Gong practitioners who were tortured to death have been documented by human rights organizations. Huang Ju in his political capacity has also used every opportunity to incite hatred against Falun Gong and encouraged his
subordinates to intensify their efforts to wipe out the peaceful meditation practice using whatever means possible.

The plaintiffs claim, "Huang Ju personally, and in cooperation with others, planned, instigated, ordered, authorized, incited or aided and abetted government officials and party members, the police, and other security forces to commit the abuses suffered by Falun Gong practitioners. These abuses took place as a result of his co-perpetration, aiding or abetting or conspiring in concert with others in Shanghai to eradicate the practice and membership of Falun Gong from China, by means of brainwashing, torture, unlawful arrests and arbitrary detention."

Chief Superintendent Bill Donoghue and Detective Superintendent P.J. Browne of Pearse street Gardai Station are leading the investigation. So far no action has been taken by the Gardai to arrest Vice Premier Huang during his state visit. However, diplomatic immunity will not apply with regard to the crime of
torture.

The plaintiffs in the case include Mr. Zhao Ming and Mr. Liu Feng, both victims of the persecution who have been rescued back to Ireland. Zhao Ming commented: "Justice has no boundaries of nation. I believe that good deeds meet with good returns while evil deeds are punished. Nobody is above this principle. We will continue our efforts to bring those responsible for this brutal persecution to justice."

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.” Practised in over 60 countries world-wide, Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture. With government estimates of as many as 100 million practising Falun Gong in China, China’s then-Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report). Since that time, Jiang’s regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practise it. The European Falun Gong Information Centre has verified details of 1101 deaths (reports) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. In October 2001, however, Government officials inside China reported that the actual death toll was well over 1,600. Expert sources now estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.

Contacts: Zhao Ming 0872980324, Liu Feng 0872661616, Dai Dongxue 0879596370
or Gerald O'Connor 0872789969