Matthias Mulmenstadt
Head of Division 22
Berlin, 29 October 2002
Dear Mr. Zhao,
Federal President Johannes Rauthanks you for your letter dated 7 October 2002 in which you described your persecution and torture. He has asked me to reply to your letter.
The protection and implementation of human rights around the world is of special concern to the Federal President. This concern has origins in recent German history and reflects the important position of basic rights in the German constitution.
The Federal President therefore closely observes the way the Chinese authorities treat dissidents. He was also aware of your arrest due to the many letters he has received on this subject, and thus all the more pleased that the efforts of the international community were successful in obtaining your release.
The human rights situation was one of the main topics of the talks during his meeting in Berlin with the Chinese President in April this year. The Federal President appealed to President Jiang Zemin to respect civil and human rights in China and to continue the candid discussion of this subject. President Rau once again used this opportunity to underline the importance of the dialogue between the Chinese and the German Governments about the rule of law which constitutes an important forum for discussing human rights.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Joschka Fischer, clearly pointed out the unsatisfactory human rights situation in China in his speech to the United Nations Commission on HUman Rights in Geneva this year. In particular, he emphasized that there can be no "anti-terrorism bonus". Federal Minister Fischer called on the Chinese Government to "cease persecuting Falun Gong followers".
Yours sincerely,
Matthias Mulmenstadt
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