Korea: Christian Organisation States that Falun Gong Practitioners' Human Rights Should Be Protected

On August 13th, 2009, the organisation, Christian Social Responsibility of Korea held a press conference and condemned the Korean government's forceful deportation of Falun Gong practitioners. It also called on the Korean government to stop deporting Falun Gong practitioners seeking political asylum in Korea.

Christian Social Responsibility of Korea held a press conference and condemned the Korean government's forceful deportation of Falun Gong practitioners

Pastor Seo Kyung-seok, Director of Christian Social Responsibility of Korea

Succumbing to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) pressure, the Korean government deported three Chinese Falun Gong practitioners who were applying for asylum. Currently, two more Chinese practitioners in Korea face potential deportation. The issue has caught the attention of the international community.

At the press conference, Pastor Seo said, "The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is ongoing in China. Under such a situation, the deportation of Falun Gong practitioner asylum applicants is absolutely wrong. No matter which government, organisation, or individual, we should speak out for them because human rights cannot be infringed upon.

"Many Christians advised me not to attend this event supporting Falun Gong, fearing that if I attend, Christians will be persecuted too. But as a Christian, I have a principle, which is that Falun Gong practitioners should enjoy the same human rights. Those practitioners who were deported back to China will surely face persecution. In this situation, as a citizen of Korea, if we do not speak out for them, we would not be living up to our democracy and freedom."

Pastor Seo pointed out, "Since Falun Gong is different from Christianity, I neither support nor object to Falun Gong's principles. But I want to say that Falun Gong practitioners' human rights should be protected.

"Currently two Falun Gong practitioners are being detained. We Koreans do not believe they should be deported back to China. If the Korean government has any part in infringing upon human rights, it will be the shame of the Korean government. If such a thing happens, we Korean people cannot keep silent."

After Pastor Seo's speech, Secretary General Kim of Christian Social Responsibility issued a stern statement on behalf of the organisation. The statement read, "Since the Korean government signed the United Nations Convention Against Torture, the Korean government should not deport these refugees back to China. During recent years, the Korean government has strongly called on the CCP regime to not deport North Korean refugees. But now the Korean government deports Falun Gong asylum seekers. Such action is shameful."

The statement also called on the Korean government to safeguard Korean's image and dignity, and expressed the hope that the Korean people can be proud of their country. Thus, he said that the Korean government must stop the deportation of Falun Gong practitioners.

Mr. Kim and others mailed the statement to relevant Korean governmental departments.

Mr. Kim said, "According to investigation, the Falun Gong practitioners who were deported back to China are now missing in China. Based on the UN refugee convention, they should not be deported. But the Korean government deported them. Such action violated the UN convention. We should stop such inhuman action on the part of the Korean Ministry of Justice."