UN Representative Sends Best Wishes on Establishment of the European Brach of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong

The following statement of support was read on February 3rd at a press conference outside the Chinese Embassy in London. The statement was by a representative to the United Nations of the Association of World Citizens. The press conference was held to announce the establishment of the European branch of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG-Europe). To find out more about the event, please see http://en.clearharmony.net/articles/200702/37890.html.

I can be with you only in Spirit as you organize your important efforts to investigate the abuses of organ transplants, especially concerning practitioners of Falun Gong.

As I am concerned with issues of spiritual liberty within the United Nations human rights procedures, I have been concerned with government repression against the Falun Gong since the start of the government ban. I believe that it is important to continue to stress the need for the Chinese government to respect the "Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief" for the Falun Gong as well as for other religious and spiritual movements.

I have also been active on the issue of abuses within the "reform through labour" camps – a system which opens the door to the possibilities of abuses. There are voices within the Chinese legal community that are calling for an end to the "reform through labour" system – voices which we must encourage. The Falun Gong practitioners have often been victims of this system which has few, if any, safeguards for people caught up in the system.

The abuses of the organ transplants is an issue on which I have no direct knowledge. Thus the need for efforts such as yours to investigate. Although I can not be part of your delegation – my efforts since 1985 on the spiritual liberty of the Tibetans does not open many doors with officials in China – I will be most interested in all your findings and in the follow up.

Again, with all best wishes in your efforts,

Representative to the United Nations of the Association of World Citizens