Ireland: Clarifying the Truth at a Human Rights meeting in Galway University

On the 12 October, Falun Gong practitioner Zhao Ming went to Galway city to speak at a meeting of the Political Discussion Society of National University of Ireland. Ming talked with a well known professor in Galway University, Professor William Schabas. Prof. Schabas is a key member of the Irish Human Rights Centre and is very sympathetic towards Falun Gong.

At the meeting, Zhao Ming spoke to about 50 students in total, including 5 students from the Irish Human Rights Centre. The speech itself lasted for about half an hour, after which a video was shown and then there were many questions answered. In total, the event lasted for one and a half hours. After which, all of the students stood up and warmly applauded.

Letters calling for the release of 2 Dublin students, Liu Feng (male) and Yang Fang (female) were also distributed at the meeting. However, there were not enough copies for everyone! Because there were not enough copies, the students said that they would make their own.

Zhao Ming commented; “The university event laid a foundation for our future campaign [to have all detained practitioners released]. This society is very enthusiastic. We think such academic institution and expert in human rights like Professor Schabas may play an important role in later stage of the campaign.”

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Copy of the letter distributed at the meeting [editor – the letter has since been updated by Irish practitioners. This is the updated version]

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am an Irish citizen. I am writing this letter to you to bring your attention to a Chinese student Mr. Feng Liu who had studied in Ireland but is now unlawfully detained in China.

Mr. Feng Liu, 23, was studying at Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education before he returned to China for his Christmas holiday at the end of 1999. During the Christmas holidays, he was detained because he appealed to the Chinese government against the persecution of Falun Gong. His passport was confiscated and was not able to return to Ireland to continue his studies. In June this year, he was arrested, when shopping, by the police and he has consequently been detained in Yaojia Detention Centre in Dalian city.

In China, Jiang Zemin’s regime is persecuting Falun Gong practitioners very brutally and inhumanely. The number of verified deaths due to torture in detention is increasing each week. The current death toll is now 511.

I have also learned that Mr. Zhao Ming, the Trinity student who was detained in a labour camp in China for being a Falun Gong practitioner, was subjected to beating, sleep deprivation, electric shock torture and physical punishment in the labour camp. I am worried about what will happen to Feng if he cannot be released soon.

The Irish government has made a great, and very effective, effort to have Zhao Ming released. I hope that you could encourage the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs to make the same efforts to get Feng released. I sincerely hope that our government can do something to have him released before the situation worsens.

In July this year Falun Gong practitioners around the world launched an “International Campaign to Rescue Our Family Members”. The goal is to rescue western citizens and residents’ family members who are persecuted in China. Many western countries are making an effort to help individuals who are suffering persecuted because they practice Falun Gong.

Last month, the Canadian congress passed a resolution which unanimously urged the Chinese government to release the family members of Canadian (resident) Falun Gong practitioners, who are suffering in China. So far, 4 out of 13 family members have been released. I think our government should join this campaign, to support justice and human rights.

Thank you very much.
Yours Sincerely