Jiang Regime's Persecution Against European Residents (Part 27) - Four Swiss Citizens Wrongly Arrested and Violently Treated in Hong Kong (1)

Swiss Citizens arrested and charged in Hong Kong during peaceful legal Hunger Strike (Part 1)

Country: Switzerland
Names:
Simone Schlegel - Grünenfelder, 28, female, Housewife
Quoc Lam Duy, 28, male, engineer
Roland Isenschmid, 39, male, tax inspector
Erich Bachmann, 40, male, clerk

Location of incident: Chinese Liaison Office (Central Government’s Hong Kong office), Hong Kong, China
Description:

On March 14, 2002 at 8:50am, these four Swiss Falun Gong practitioners began a 3-day hunger strike in front of the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong. The purpose of the hunger strike was to protest Jiang’s latest orders for Falun Gong practitioners of “shoot to kill” and “kill without mercy”. 11 Hong Kong practitioners and 1 New Zealander also joined the hunger strike.

By 1:00pm, the Hong Kong police began to forcefully remove and detained all 16 of them.

Practitioners hoped to appeal also for an end to the murder of practitioners in Mainland China [the known death toll is 538. Chinese governmental sources put this figure at more than 1,600] and to urgently appeal for help from worldwide governments, organisations and all kind-hearted people.

The appeal was conducted in a peaceful manner, and complied within the law. No permission for the appeal was necessary since the number of demonstrators was less than 50, and the appeal caused no public disturbance. The appeal occupied a section approximately 7 square metres of a pavement measuring 140 square metres. The 16 practitioners sat in a meditation position opposite the vehicle entrance of the Liaison Office.

Police initially arrived five minutes after our appeal began and later warned that the appeal should move to another location. Local practitioners questioned the legality of these warnings, and received no satisfactory reply. After another four hours, the Hong Kong police department deployed dozens of police officers to forcefully remove the practitioners.

To defend their freedom of expression and assembly, approximately 10 of the practitioners joined hands in a circle. Using excessive force, including acupuncture points, chokeholds and twisting practitioners limbs, the police broke up the practitioners. On average, there were 4 policemen for each practitioner. The practitioners reported that during the forceful arrest, they felt nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. Nine practitioners, including one Swiss, were denied medical treatment afterwards. During the event, most of the practitioners were still sitting in a meditation position, with both legs folded on top of one another.

Witnesses confirmed that during the time when the practitioners were being removed, a senior officer told the other officers, “you can use more force”. Also, a female police officer shouted loudly that a practitioner had bit her, a witness also pointed out that no practitioner was near her at that time.

On March 15, two counts of ‘obstruction’ were filed against the 16 practitioners; the first was ‘obstructing a public place’ and the second was ‘conducting activities where an obstruction may occur’. The practitioners had been bailed out on March 22 and were ordered not to leave Hong Kong. They were also formally charged with 2 counts of ‘obstruction’ (as stated above). A third charge of ‘obstructing police officer in carrying out their duties and assaulting police’ was also added. The trial date was set for June 17, 2002.

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