Letter from the European Falun Dafa Association to the Prime Minister of Cambodia

It is shocking that Cambodian police, under pressure from the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh, have deported a Chinese couple who were Falun Gong practitioners and living and working in Phnom Penh with U.N. Refugee Certificates.

Li, Guojun and his wife Zhang Xinyi escaped from China to Phnom Penh after Chinese President Jiang Zemin launched the persecution campaign against Falun Gong in July, 1999.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999, fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

We have verified details of 450 deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600. Over 100,000 have been detained, with more than 20,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps without trial.

The couple is now being held in a detention center in Changsha City, the capital city of Hunan Province in China. This couple's fate is likely to include unlimited incarceration and torture should the couple refuse to renounce their spiritual beliefs.

The deportation is a blatant and direct violation of the couple’s official status as U.N. refugees. We urge the Cambodian government to use all power in its disposal to safeguard the rights of those who has official refugee status and honour its obligations as a UN member to protect UN refugees.