Bulgarian Falun Gong Association Urges Governments to take Action and Condemn the Persecution

On the 8th of ¬March, the Bulgarian Falun Gong Association (BFGA) sent a petition containing 575 signatures from Bulgarian citizens declaring their support for stopping the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China to the Chairperson of the 62nd Session of the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Commission) and to the permanent representative of Bulgaria in the UN. Here is a copy of the letter that was sent.

H.E. Mr. Manuel Rodríguez
Chairperson of the 62nd Session
Of the United Nations
Human Rights Commission
Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
8-14, avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva10, Switzerland

March the 8th 2006

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you about the forthcoming 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. On behalf of Bulgarian Falun Gong Association, I would like to express the association’s stance on the human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners in China, and I am sending to you a copy of our petition to condemn the systematic and brutal persecution, torture and harassment of Falun Gong practitioners in China for the past six years. The petition consists of 575 signatures gathered in Bulgaria during the last two years.

BFDA is gravely concerned about the situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Falun Gong is a self-cultivation system which includes the refinement of mind and body, and it is a philosophy based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. This cultivation method was made public in China in 1992 and soon became widely known in the society as well as in government circles. However, in 1999 the former Chinese president Jiang Zemin started a brutal and inhuman persecution against practitioners which continues to this day.

Various human rights organisations, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, who conducted an investigation in China several months ago, addresses the numerous killings, torture and violence against Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese labour camps and prisons. Up until now, more than 2,800 death cases as a result of torture have been confirmed by the Falun Gong Information Centre. It has been determined that the detention of practitioners is not motivated and is arbitrary, without due trials. Practitioners’ families, friends, and supporters are being intimidated, extorted and manipulated, while the detained are violently compelled to sign declarations denouncing their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance.

There is no evidence that Falun Dafa is a “violent” belief or that its practitioners act in an “anti-government” or another unlawful manner. Just the opposite – Falun Gong is not political, commercial or religious and has no organisation, membership fees or hierarchy. Those people are peaceful individuals, who put Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance as a first and foremost priority in their lives; they are responsible and they contribute to the harmony in their workplaces, homes, and in society. Falun Gong is popular in 78 countries including Bulgaria. Most of the practitioners are highly-educated people, experts in science, economy and business, government officials and journalists.

Unfortunately, the Chinese government does not oppress practitioners only in China, but exports this persecution abroad. Cases of interference, pressure and assaults have been reported in Ireland, Germany, Australia, Russia, Thailand, Cambodia, South Africa, Argentina, Peru, Canada, USA, Bulgaria, etc.

The last and most notable incident occurred in Atlanta, USA in the beginning of 2006 as one of the senior IT specialists of the media Epoch Times, Mr. Li Yuan, has been beaten and robbed in his own home. The Epoch Times is an independent voice in print and on the web, and it is an independent source of news about China. Mr. Li Yuan is involved in breaking through the Internet blockade in China and administers the website for renouncing CCP membership.

Last year, the biggest French satellite operator Eutelsat was subjected to pressure by the Chinese government to stop broadcasting the only uncensored TV station in China – New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV). However, after many letters of support the French operator renewed its contract with NTDTV and gave a green light to the freedom of speech and democracy.

The numerous acts of intimidation, attacks and abuse of Falun Gong practitioners and their supporters in the U.S., compelled the Congress to adopt Resolution 304 on February the 24th 2004 condemning the persecution of Falun Gong in China and abroad.

The Bulgarian Falun Gong Association (BFGA) is sure that the acts of the Chinese government must be condemned, and such acts should also lead to serious consequences for China. In recent years, the international human rights community has seen that China ignores all appeals for respecting human rights and continues to actively persecute Falun Gong and other peaceful religious and spiritual practices as well as labour and democratic activists. Such violations also breach the UN international mechanisms protecting human rights, the freedom of thought, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech.

Apart from condemning those acts, the international community should adopt various steps for terminating the violations of human rights by using diplomatic, inter-governmental, and other channels; measures have to be taken for economic restrictions until China resolves its human rights issue and people’s freedom.

BFGA urges all governments which participate in this year’s session of the UN Human Rights Commission to undertake measures for ceasing the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, and to adopt a similar resolution to US Congress’ 304, which condemns the acts of the Chinese regime and prescribes ways to protect the victims of such acts; it furthermore satiates that diplomats who participate in violence against practitioners should be ousted and held responsible.

BFGA hopes that the persecution of Falun Gong and the brutal violations of human rights in China will be stopped. BFGA declares support and encloses 575 Bulgarian signatures.

We would like wish successful work to the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Bulgarian Falun Gong Association