Letter to the Cambodian Prime Minister from Swedish practitioners

H.E. Samdech Hun Sen
The Royal Government of Cambodia
Phnom Penh
Cambodia

21st of August 2002

As Swedish citizens and Falun Gong practitioners we respectfully ask for your urgent attention. We learned that the Cambodian police, under pressure from the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh, have on the 9th of August deported a Chinese couple who were Falun Gong practitioners and living and working in Phnom Penh with U.N. Refugee Certificates. We understand the Policies of the Royal Government of Cambodia include the respect of human rights, neutrality and non-alliance and properly enforcing the law to make Cambodia safe for all, including visitors and foreign workers.

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. From the news we heard the couple is now being held in a detention centre 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.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practising 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.

We have been practising Falun Gong since 1995, in Sweden. We have also visited China couple of times and met many kind-hearted Falun Gong practitioners. Today you can find many practice sites in Sweden and elsewhere in the world. Swedish people as well as people in over 50 countries around the world have found great benefit in this traditional Chinese meditation and exercise practice with teachings based on the principles of Truthfulness -- Compassion -- Forbearance that was taught privately over thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr Li Hongzhi. We sincerely hope that Cambodian Government as well as the good people of Cambodia may also get to enjoy this wonderful practice.

We are certain that, upon knowing the truth and facts of the persecution, you will do everything possible in this matter and do all that you can to safeguard the rights of those holding UN refugee status.