Let's Work Together to End the Show Trial of Innocent Falun Gong Practitioners

The case of the Hong Kong police charging Falun Gong practitioners with obstruction was brought to court on July 9. During the hearing the defence attorney analysed the police video and photographs taken at the scene, pointing out that there was insufficient proof to substantiate a charge of "obstruction of streets" and "assaulting police." While they were protesting peacefully against Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Gong outside the Central Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong on March 14, sixteen Falun Gong practitioners were forcibly abducted by the Hong Kong police. The police video and objective evidence clearly showed that the protesting Falun Gong practitioners occupied a comparatively tiny space on the wide pavement and did not obstruct any pedestrians, coming or going. Nor was the banner in their hands likely to obstruct anyone. The Falun Gong practitioners, who were surrounded and forcibly arrested by a group of policemen, were unable to assault the policemen. That the Hong Kong police conducted the arrest without a warrant was itself illegal.

The trial, which was planned for ten working days, was postponed again and again. In court, whenever the defence lawyer referred to issues concerning human rights and the specialization of the policemen, the public prosecutor objected, saying that those topics had nothing to do with the case. Then the prosecutor would harass the witnesses for the defendants into giving positive answers to questions without any practical evidence but beneficial to the prosecutor. In addition, the presiding judge was remarkably impolite to the defence attorney, and the judgment he made was unquestionably partial. The judge and the prosecutor repeated the same story many times. This was, in fact, a political trial. The nature of the case was not the normal "obstruction of streets," but a political charge brought under the threat of the authorities of the ruling Party of China.

Jiang's regime has extended its suppression of Falun Gong outside of China. The government of Hong Kong, under pressure from China, has played a dishonourable role in the pursuit of power. The Hong Kong police, who acted on government orders to falsely accuse Falun Gong practitioners, have not only violated the basic human rights of freedom of belief and speech, but also acted as an instrument to persecute peaceful and compassionate Falun Gong practitioners who are firm in their belief of truth-compassion-forbearance. It is a political persecution.

Whether Hong Kong's justice department, which has played a very important role in the case, can remain unbiased and treat Falun Gong practitioners fairly has aroused worldwide attention. In this day and time, a legal system that upholds justice, safeguards morality, punishes evil-doers and advocates good deeds has become the symbol of a civilized society and the measure of a just administration. As Falun Gong has spread throughout the world during the past three years, the international community has generally acknowledged Falun Gong's benefits in the improvement of human morality. Even in the face of bloody suppression, practitioners, firm in their belief, remain peaceful and rational. As cultivators, they have been examples of an upgraded morality and state of mind. Truth-Compassion-Forbearance, the universal principle advocated by Falun Dafa, is a criterion of behaviour to which hundreds of millions of people wish to conform and deserves to be followed. If the legal system goes against the will and interests of the people, becoming instead an instrument to suppress compassion and persecute the innocent, the law will cease to exist and evil will dominate. In that case, the country and the people will be in great danger.

Prior to Jiang's suppression of Falun Gong, there was no need for peaceful appeals for Falun Gong. This appeal in Hong Kong sought to bring attention to the millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China who have been tortured to death, who have been jailed and detained, who have become homeless, whose families are torn apart. The peaceful protest of Hong Kong's Falun Gong practitioners in front of the Central Government Liaison Office was a just act intended to safeguard the belief of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance and human dignity. It was an act of selflessness to persist in the expectation of democracy, freedom, prosperity and stability for Hong Kong.

We hereby appeal to the international community, the media, and people from all walks of life to please support all lawful civil rights, including the right of belief, the right of assembly, and the right of free speech. These are rights that everyone, including the Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners, should be able to enjoy. Let's work together to end such show trials and the political persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Meanwhile, we also appeal to the government and people of Hong Kong to please differentiate good from evil and make the right choice. Any form of connivance or compromise with extreme power and violence would destroy civilization and progress. A society that has lost its justice and conscience, a society that does not value the truth will have neither a future nor hope.

Source:
http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/8/5/24877.html