Hong Kong: Falun Gong Practitioners Protest Against Chinese Culture Minister Sun Jiazheng for Instigating Hatred

On November 14th, 2004, Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners protested the visit of Chinese Culture Minister Sun Jiazheng, condemning his instigation of hatred toward Falun Gong through the state-run media and under the guise of cultural exchange. In addition, Sun is in charge of overseeing the Internet surveillance designed to block Falun Gong practitioners' communication and prevent the Chinese people from accessing Western media reports about Falun Gong.

According to a report from the Associated Press on November 14th, 2004, dozens of Falun Gong practitioners protested Sun's visit on Sunday, condemning the role he plays in the persecution of Falun Gong.

Ms. Sun Jie, the spokeswoman for the rally, told the Associated Press correspondent that five practitioners held a banner expressing their strong protest against Sun Jiazheng, for instigating hatred in the persecution of Falun Gong, outside the Government House. Approximately forty additional practitioners were practising the seated meditation by the back entrance of the building. The practitioners staged a peaceful march from a downtown park to Government House, which is the former British governors' mansion.

Sun Jiazheng was on his way to attend an international conference on cultural cooperation.

The AP report, quoting a statement from the Falun Gong practitioners, said that Sun oversees the Internet surveillance of Falun Gong communications, which has led to the jailing and torture of practitioners who have downloaded or sent materials over the Internet in China.

The report also indicated that Falun Gong was banned in China, but is freely practised in Hong Kong, a former British colony that has returned to Chinese rule with guarantees of Western-style freedom and democracy.

Since the persecution began in 1999, at least 1,110 practitioners have been killed as a result of the brutal persecution in China.