The Associated Press: Falun Gong lawsuit accuses Jiang of human rights abuses

Thursday, October 24, 2002
By Deanna Bellandi

Falun Gong supporters hoped to keep the pressure on Chinese President Jiang Zemin one day after announcing the aging ruler had been sued in federal court in Chicago for alleged human rights abuses. Jiang left Chicago on Wednesday and was headed to Texas, where he was scheduled to meet with President Bush.

"I would hope that in light of this lawsuit, President Bush will discuss in earnest ways to end the persecution of Falun Gong in China today," said human rights attorney Terri E. Marsh at a press conference Wednesday morning in Chicago.

Jiang's Chicago visit was met with protests from supporters of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned in China in 1999 as a threat to communist rule. It has attracted millions of followers with its mix of slow-motion exercises and teachings drawn from Buddhism, Taoism and the doctrines of its founder, a former Chinese government clerk.

The lawsuit against Jiang was filed Oct. 18, but it wasn't until Tuesday that Jiang's security detail was served with notice of the lawsuit at his Chicago hotel.

An official at the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday from The Associated Press.

The lawsuit names Jiang and an office it alleges the Chinese president helped create to carry out "a systemic campaign of persecution, torture, and genocide against Falun Gong."

The lawsuit adds to efforts by Falun Gong to use U.S. courts to punish Chinese officials for the 3-year-old crackdown. Activists say hundreds of Falun Gong supporters have been killed.

At Wednesday's press conference in Chicago, Australian citizen Zhi Zhen Dai tearfully spoke of her husband, a Falun Gong practitioner, who she said died last year in China after he was arrested, jailed and tortured.

"I hope American people can help us to end the persecution," she said.

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