Belgium: Practitioners Protest Against Singapore Government’s False Charges

On the morning of February 5th 2007, Falun Gong practitioners in Belgium gathered in front of the Singapore Embassy to protest that government’s unreasonable trial of six Falun Gong practitioners on the charge of "assembly without a permit". They urgently called on the Singaporean authorities to drop the charges against the practitioners and not to help the Chinese communist regime persecute Falun Gong or become an accomplice in the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners protest against the Singapore government’s false charges	Falun Gong practitioners submit a petition letter to the Singapore Embassy

Human rights lawyer Mr. Ravi came all the way from Singapore to participate in the protest. Although it was very cold, Mr. Ravi insisted on staying with the practitioners. Due to his defense of Falun Gong practitioners, his certificate to practice law was revoked by the Singapore government.

With the local police’s assistance, representatives of Belgian Falun Gong practitioners and Mr. Ravi met the Singapore Embassy’s First Secretary and Consul, Mr. Rama. Falun Gong practitioners explained to him the unfair treatment Falun Gong practitioners have received in Singapore, and the reasons why they staged the protest. They also called on the Singapore government not to help the Chinese communist regime persecute Falun Gong. The consulate official stated that Falun Gong is a legal organization in his country and people are allowed to practice Falun Gong in Singapore. When he mentioned that all organizations should abide by the laws, Mr. Ravi told the officials his own experience in defending Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore. He said the trial of Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore is illegal and people don’t have the freedom to protest in Singapore, and that’s why they staged the protest there. He especially pointed out that when trying to defend the Falun Gong practitioners, the Singapore police even took away the evidence he wanted to use for the defense of the defendants. He urged all of Singapore's citizens in other countries around the world to go to their embassies to express their concern about the case.

Afterwards, two Falun Gong practitioners formally presented the Belgian Falun Gong Association’s petition and other related materials to the Singapore Embassy. The practitioners stated that before the Chinese communist regime started to persecute Falun Gong in 1999, Falun Gong was allowed to hold various activities, and they had never had any problems holding these activities. However, after the Chinese regime started the persecution, the Singapore practitioners’ legitimate activities were interfered with in a variety of ways, and they have been treated unreasonably. It is unacceptable that the Singapore government helps the Chinese communist regime to persecute Falun Gong.

The Embassy’s First Secretary and the Consul, Mr. Rama, eventually agreed to forward the petition as well as the practitioners’ requests to the government.