France: Press Conference Exposes Chinese Authorities’ Refusal to Co-operate with French Authorities’ Investigation

On the afternoon of Thursday the 29th of September, at a press conference held in the office of William Bourdon, a famous lawyer in France disclosed that the related Chinese authorities refuse to co-operate with a Commission Rogatoire Internationale and a notice sent to them by Noria Faucherie, a law-officer from Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris.

The Commission Rogatoire Internationale demanded to investigate the “6-10 Office”, an organisation that is specifically responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong. The “6-10 Office” is run by Li Lanqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CCP, deputy prime minister of the State Council and responsible for crimes against humanity in the campaign of genocide against Falun Gong. The Commission Rogatoire Internationale also demanded the Chinese authorities to co-operate with the investigation of Sun Jiazheng, Minister of Chinese Culture. Sun is responsible for crimes of torture by controlling the media, cultural departments and the Internet to stigmatise Falun Gong and instigate hatred against the practice among the Chinese people.

This is the first case in Europe that the Tribunal demanded to investigate Chinese high ranking officials. According to lawyers, the Commission Rogatoire Internationale demanded to investigate the roles that the CCP police, Li Lanqing and Sun Jiazheng have played in the persecution of Falun Gong. It also demanded an investigation into the ill-treatment of French Falun Gong practitioner Helene Petit in November of 2001.

The lawyer said that it is unacceptable that China refused to take part in the investigation as China and France have signed a bilateral agreement in judicial co-operation. He said that normally, after the bilateral agreement in judicial co-operation is signed between two countries; if one side asks the other side to investigate something, the investigation should be conducted as a matter of course. Although sometimes matters are comparatively complicated and move at a slower pace, the investigation will always be carried out. But this time, China expressed frankly that the matter can’t be investigated and the French legal authorities should simply forget it. According to the lawyer, the French authorities were very angry at the unreasonable attitude of China. He also expressed his hope that the French authorities will demand that China abides by the bilateral agreement in judicial co-operation

Helene Petit, a French Falun Gong practitioner and one of the plaintiffs, said: “The Organisation of Human Rights was not surprised that the CCP does not abide by the bilateral agreement though it has signed it. They think it is as a result of the nature of the CCP. However, it is unacceptable. At present, France is training law-officers for China and it seems that the CCP are not good students.”

She went on to say: “Falun Gong practitioners all over the world are forming a law network. The law network has already started to function: CCP Educational Minister Chen Zhili was brought to court in Tanzania, Secretary of Gansu Provincial Party Committee Su Rong escaped a judicial summons for trial by swiftly vanishing from Zambia and Foreign Minister Bo Xilai was forbidden entry by the American and Canadian governments when he went to these countries. Helene said she will continue working hard with Falun Gong practitioners all over the world until they bring all criminals who have persecuted Falun Gong to justice.

In December of 2002, William Bourdon and Georges-Henri Beauthier, human rights lawyers who are internationally renowned, were entrusted by Falun Gong practitioners to bring a suit against Li Lanqing who was then visiting France. In January 2004, Madam Phelizon, a well known French lawyer, was entrusted by Falun Gong practitioners to proceed against Sun Jiazheng who was then participating in the year of culture between France and China. She was given great help by Mr. William Bourdon.

William Bourdon and Georges-Henri Beauthier were both representative lawyers of the plaintiffs from their own countries in the international lawsuit against Pinochet, the dictator of Chile. William Bourdon used to be Secretary-General of the FIDH.