Press Release: Let’s Work Together to Stop the Persecution Against Falun Gong in China

On July 20th 1999, China started the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. Jiang’s regime banned Falun Gong on July 22nd, 1999. From then on, over one hundred thousand practitioners have been arrested, tens of thousands sent to labour camps without legal trials and hundreds tortured to death. Falun Gong, with its five sets of exercises, is based on the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” Falun Gong is just like other peaceful world outlooks, being a principle to live by. However, the ruling authorities fear that their political power might be threatened. It is their morbid fear that leads to the brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

Why has the persecution lasted for three years?

Three years ago, one thing happened on the streets in China. An excavator piled up thousands of Falun Gong books, records and tapes and the police set fire to them. Before this event, people used to think that such a scene could only be in the movies or reports about the German Nazis. On the night of July 19th, there were police raids on practitioners’ homes. During that night, hundreds of people were arrested just because they practised a peaceful traditional meditation, and many people went missing. Over the next few days, there were thirty thousand people detained in a Beijing gym.

This persecution happened because China’s leader felt his political power was threatened. The leadership felt threatened by those people who had no interest in politics and just wanted to exercise their basic human rights.

The persecution was manipulated by the “610 Office”. The “610 Office” was set up on Jiang’s suggestion on June 10th, 1999 for the purpose of persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. The “610 Office” is under the direct control of the government and is not regulated by any law.

The stretching hand of China’s Persecution in other countries

This year, the pressure from Jiang can be felt, especially during his frequent international visits. Several weeks ago, some democratic countries accepted the “black list” compiled by China’s secret agents on which there were listed the names of civilians in Europe, America, Canada, Asia and Australia. During Jiang’s visits to Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, the “black list” was utilized to deny Falun Gong travellers entry into these countries. In this way, people’s democratic rights were threatened. During Jiang’s visit to Germany this April, the German government yielded to Jiang’s request. The campaigners who called on China to protect human rights, Asians and the yellow colour were kept out of the sight of Jiang.

This March, Falun Gong practitioners who set up a legal sit-in demonstration in front of the Chinese Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong were driven away with violence. Sixteen practitioners were prosecuted. Compared with the British colonial government’s treatment of Falun Gong, the prosecution draws international attention and makes people doubt the promise of “one country, two systems.”

The Chinese Embassy in every foreign country abuses its political power to escalate the persecution against Falun Gong. The displays of propaganda, slandering Falun Gong were held in the Chinese Embassy. Under diplomatic immunity, the Chinese Embassy do not have to worry about the consequences of law violation in any democratic country.

China abuses political power to persecute Falun Gong

The Chinese government uses state-run media for its propaganda. Opposing opinions or criticism will never be reported. So far 1,500 web sites have been shut down and the access to web sites of foreign newspapers has been denied. Even BBC World television news broadcasts available throughout the world are blocked in China. A spokesman in London for the BBC said, “The reason is that there was a report on BBC World about the banned spiritual group Falun Gong.”

In China there is no independent court. The government departments show contempt for the constitution and civil freedoms of speech and belief. Falun Gong practitioners are arrested and sent to labour camps and mental hospitals without legal trials. Because of their unwillingness to sign their names on the statement of giving up Falun Gong, the practitioners are tortured not only by the prison guards but also by the prisoners.

The persecution has lasted for three years, and so has the journey of peace

Four hundred and thirty eight practitioners are proved to have been tortured to death (according to the unofficial report at least 1600 practitioners), over one hundred thousand practitioners have been arrested, over ten thousand practitioners have been detained, and numerous homes have been broken. Despite the brutal persecution, Falun Gong practitioners still live their lives by the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” Is there such an unfair treatment of peaceful appeal in history?

Although the persecution has lasted for three years, Falun Gong will continue to survive in China and other countries because righteousness will last forever and truth will not be overshadowed. To inform the world of the extent and background of the persecution, to stop the suppression, to release the practitioners imprisoned in labour camps, prisons and mental hospitals, and to regain the freedom to practice Falun Gong in China, we appeal for everyone’s support. Let us work together to stop the persecution against Falun Gong.