Indonesia: Concerned about the Chinese Embassy's Interference with Falun Gong Activities, the Foreign Affairs Ministry Holds a Hearing

Accompanied by the Jakarta Legal Aid Organisation, Indonesia Falun Gong practitioners attended a hearing held by the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry on June 15th, 2007. The hearing was related to the Chinese Embassy's recent interference with some activities of Falun Gong practitioners in Indonesia.

Gudadi B. Sasongko from the Asia-Pacific Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the hearing.

Falun Gong practitioners' representative Mr. Lu expressed that the Chinese Embassy's interference in Indonesia has gone beyond its scope of diplomatic relations. The Chinese Embassy has attempted to implement the Chinese Communist Party's policies in Indonesia, particularly the ban on Falun Gong. The Chinese Embassy has distributed materials slandering Falun Gong to incite hatred against Falun Gong in the Chinese community in Indonesia.

Representative from the Jakarta Legal Aid Organisation Febi Yonesta added, "What the Chinese Embassy has done against Falun Gong practitioners has constituted discrimination, which is a sad thing, because Indonesia has been advocating anti-discrimination laws." Besides, he stressed that the legal aid organisation will take heed to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He also said, "We oppose all forms of persecution, regardless of where it occurs."

Regarding issues that the Falun Gong practitioners' representative raised, Gudadi from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We will pay close attention to all this, so that the Indonesian government will not have a wrong attitude toward Falun Gong." He will also make a report on this matter at the seminar in the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He hoped that Falun Gong practitioners will have more communication with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to prevent the Indonesia government from obtaining only one-sided information from the Chinese Embassy and making incorrect judgments on Falun Gong issues.