Taiwan Falun Dafa Society Writes to Four International Human Rights Organisation in Response to Singapore's Unjust Verdict

In response to the Singapore Court's unjust conviction of two Falun Gong practitioners on April 27, 2005, Taiwan's Falun Dafa Society wrote letters to four international human rights organisations, including "Petitions Team, Office of the High commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva," "Human Rights Watch," "Freedom House," and "Amnesty International," as well as the "Chancery Bar Association" in United Kingdom. The letter requested these renowned human rights organisations to investigate and reveal the human rights violations against the Singapore Falun Gong practitioners in this case. The letter also called upon them to support the basic human rights of the two practitioners. Copies of the letter were also sent to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore Prime Minister and Professor S Jayakumar, Singapore Minister of Law.

The following is the text of the letter:

(Addresses of the organisations are omitted)

May 6, 2005

To whom it may concern

This letter is asking your serious attention and concern on an unfair and unjust judgement granted by Singapore court on April 27, 2005 against two Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore.

On April 27 in Singapore, two women were found "guilty" on "assembly without a permit" and "possession and distribution of illegal VCDs" under respectively MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES (PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE) ACT)and Film Act. Their crime? Handing out materials to passers-by in a public park that document the human rights atrocities inflicted upon those who practise Falun Gong in China.

Two Countries, One System??

It is a fact well-known throughout the world that the Chinese Communist Party has been waging a campaign of suppression against Falun Gong inside China for the past 6 years -- a campaign that is vast in scope and horrifying in its implementation. Human rights workers have documented over 42,000 cases of severe abuse or torture in prison camps and detention centres of Falun Gong practitioners. Thousands are dead. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, languish in labour camps and detention centres throughout China ¡V many sent there merely for letting their fellow citizens know about the abuses unleashed on Falun Gong.

Up until two days ago, only in Communist China would people be punished by authorities for distributing these materials. How is it that Singapore's justice system would punish people for speaking the truth? It is appalling and disturbing that in Singapore ¡V a society that is supposedly governed by rule of law ¡V two Falun Gong practitioners would be found "guilty" and fined simply for giving away CDs and information about China's persecution of Falun Gong for free to the public.

Falun Gong Practitioners' Fundamental Rights and Liberty are Being Curtailed

Defence counsel for the two accused women has stressed that the issue in this case is about whether it is fair to the Falun Gong practitioners that their fundamental rights and liberty is being curtailed by way of the discretionary administration of certification and refusal to grant a certification for their VCDs. They were merely exercising their Constitutional rights, and such rights expressed peacefully and orderly should not be curtailed by any other law of the land.

Discrimination against Falun Gong on the grounds of religion/belief

The evidence suggests that no other group, religious organisation and qigong activity has faced similar close scrutiny since July 1999 and faced such similar charges. But, there is an SOP for the Falun Gong, there is close monitoring of the Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore. There is a clear directive that states that all Falun Gong related reports falls under the purview of the Senior Investigation Officer, and they have constantly been subject to police inspection and the taking down of their particulars, their items seized, confiscated, and they are told to leave their place of practise. Article 12, Constitution of the Republic of Singapore states clearly that 'All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law'. It goes on to state that, "...there shall be no discrimination against citizens of Singapore on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law...". Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore have been subjected to being singled out, victimised, particularised, carefully scrutinised and subjected to inequality before the law. This is in violation of their fundamental right.

Defence counsel has submitted the notice of appeal to the court. We Falun Gong practitioners in more than 60 countries have called upon the government of Singapore to reverse this decision and handle this case justly in accordance with the law.

We know your organisation is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world and stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold freedom. I would like to ask you to investigate and expose any human rights violations in this case and enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for accused Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore.

Your help will touch the hearts of all those who value the freedom of belief and human rights.

Sincerely,

Chang, Ching-Hsi

Chairman, Taiwan Falun Dafa Society