Argentina: Ms. Zhang Cuiying Honored as Human Rights Ambassador

Ms. Zhang Cuiying, a Falun Gong practitioner and artist who specialises in traditional Chinese painting, was invited to Argentina to testify in court in the lawsuit against Luo Gan filed by Falun Gong practitioners. Luo Gan was the Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Central Political and Legislative Committee and was instrumental in carrying out the persecution of Falun Gong. During her visit to Argentina, Zhang Cuiying held a four-day art exhibition at the Central Hotel in Tucuman, the capital of Tucuman Province, in Northern Argentina. The exhibit opened on November 13th, 2007, and Ms. Zhang's art attracted much attention from local citizens. The mainstream media covered the art exhibition and the persecution that Ms. Zhang experienced in China for practicing Falun Gong.

Ms. Zhang was illegally detained for eight months by the Chinese Communist Party authorities for going to China from Australia to speak out against the persecution of Falun Gong. Since Luo Gan once personally interrogated Ms. Zhang during her detention, Argentinian practitioners invited her to appear in court to testify in the lawsuit against Luo.

The Epoch Times newspaper in Argentina sponsored a four-day art exhibition entitled, "Power of Kindness" during Ms. Zhang's visit to the country. The exhibition gained the support of the Tucuman Provincial Government and Tucuman National University. The Tucuman Provincial Government proclaimed that the "Power of Kindness" Art Exhibition was a provincial cultural event, and the Tucuman Government issued Ms. Zhang a "Certificate of Recognition" for Provincial Culture at the opening ceremony for the exhibition.

The opening ceremony on November 13th attracted more than 200 guests. Dignitaries in attendance included Tucuman Art Museum curator Alberto Pecatey, the Tucuman Provincial Government Culture Minister Alfredo Guzman, and Bolivian consuls. The curator of the art museum praised the beauty of Chinese paintings, and expressed his admiration for Ms. Zhang's efforts to safeguard human rights. The media showed great interest in Ms. Zhang's art. Local TV stations Channel 8 and Channel 10 broadcast the opening ceremony live and conducted interviews afterwards. They aired a 30-minute segment for a popular "Life" programme. The next day, three more TV stations, newspapers and a radio station interviewed Ms. Zhang for their culture programs. The media assembled a detailed report on Ms. Zhang's experience of being illegally detained and tortured by the Chinese Communist Party authorities.

Zhang Cuiying was invited by the Tucuman Academy of Fine Arts to demonstrate Chinese painting. Students as well as professors attended the workshop and a discussion on Chinese painting. Ms. Zhang told the students that her teacher had once told her a secret: In order to create works of the highest standard, she must upgrade her morality. During the workshop, students and professors raised many questions, and the atmosphere was warm and enthusiastic. Many students stayed after the workshop concluded, to continue asking Ms. Zhang questions, including details of her experience of being imprisoned by the CCP for practising Falun Gong. The dean of the Academy of Fine Arts sent a letter to thank Ms. Zhang for her dedication to promoting traditional Chinese art.

During the last day of the art exhibition, Ms. Zhang demonstrated Chinese painting and let those who showed interest in Chinese painting try their hand at it. The art exhibition concluded on the afternoon of November 17th.

Simoca is a city 60 km. (37 mi.) away from Tucuman. Mayor Luis Gonzalez saw the report on Ms. Zhang on TV. He appreciated Ms. Zhang's Chinese painting very much, and admired her contribution to safeguarding human rights. The day after the art exhibition, he extended a special invitation to Ms. Zhang to visit Simoca, and issued a certificate naming her as Honorable Human Rights Ambassador. He also presented Ms. Zhang with a bouquet of flowers.