Falun Gong practitioners invited to the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen)

Nov 14, 2001: Falun Gong practitioners from the province of Vaermland in Sweden were invited to the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) in Stockholm. The Swedish practitioners got the opportunity to inform people about Falun Gong and about the persecution in China. The participants were members of the Swedish Parliament from Vaermland and they showed great interest in Falun Gong and the situation in China. The members of the Parliament expressed great sympathy for the practitioners in China and could in no way accept the Chinese politicians’ crimes against humanity. The best way to support the Falun Gong practitioners in China, in their struggle to be allowed to practise, was discussed.
The opinion of the participating members of the Parliament was that China has to stop persecuting innocent people and urge development in a more democratic direction.
The members were also interested in the spiritual principles of Falun Gong and wanted to know the difference between Falun Gong and Christianity. An interesting and fruitful discussion was held. The meeting ended with the decision to send a letter to the Chinese Government and to the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm. Please find below the letter that many of the members of the Parliament from Vaermland signed.

To the Chinese Government
To the Embassy of China, Sweden

Stockholm 2001-12-12

Regarding the persecution of Falun Gong-members in China

Dear Sirs,
We, nine Members of the Swedish Parliament from the county of Värmland, want to express our support for all members of the Falun Gong movement in China and their struggle for their fundamental human rights.

We are informed of the terrible pesecution and the cruel methods that are used to try to force the Falun Gong-members to give up their cultivation method. We are convinced that violence cannot change people´s hearts, as can be seen where Falun Gong is concerned.

The only thing they want to do is to be able to practise Falun Gong in peace and quiet, be good citizens and become better people. Many Falun Gong-members want to explain the truth to the Chinese Government to set aside possible misunderstandings. These good-hearted people only want to reveal the truth to the Chinese Government so that the persecution can immediately cease.

Falun Gong-members do not use violence and try in a peaceful way to get in contact with the Government. We urge the Chinese Government to listen to these innocent people and their wish to practise Falun Gong in peace.

We encourage China, especially now when the trade between our countries is growing and the eyes will be on you during the Olympic Games, to immediately live up to fundamental human rights including freedom of religion and freedom of opinion for all people and groups in your society.

Yours sincerely

Sture Arnesson- Torgny Danielsson- Marie Engström

Viviann Gerdin- Jarl Lander- Ann-Kristine Johansson

Dan Kihlström- Marina Pettersson- Lisbeth Staaf Igelström