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| Herbert Lu with his wife, Nancy Chen. Nancy was kidnapped near the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu while visiting her relatives. She is being held by China’s National Security Department in Chengdu. No response has been received from the authorities holding her. |
Nancy is an Australian citizen who lives in Canterbury with her husband, Herbert Lu, and their 6-year-old daughter, Catherine.
Nancy and her daughter travelled to China on January 17 to visit her parents. On January 20, after she went to visit some friends in Chengdu, her family didn’t hear from her again until 6:00am on January 22, when her mother received a call from Nancy, saying: “I have been kidnapped near the American Consulate, Chengdu. They searched and took all my belongings including my passport. Please call my husband and ask the Australian government to save me.”
The line was then cut off. There has been no further contact with Nancy.
Mr. Lu says he has received confirmation that she was taken away by agents from the Chinese National Security Bureau.
Nancy’s daughter was with mother when she was detained.
Nancy’s parents were also contacted by people from the National Security Bureau who threatened them if Nancy’s husband made this incident public in Australia or on the Internet.
Immediately after hearing the news, however, Mr. Lu says he knew he had to act quickly. Mr. Lu contacted the Australian Foreign Affairs Department (DFAT). A spokesperson with DFAT at that time assured Mr. Lu that the Chinese government would be contacted regarding his wife, and that they were obligated to respond within 72 hours.
According to Mr. Lu, Nancy was kidnapped simply because she practices Falun Gong.
Since 1999, Chinese leader Jiang Zemin has carried out a persecution campaign against Falun Gong practitioners, which has recently included escalated instances of persecution targeting foreign citizens and residents as well as interference in other countries (special report).
According to Mr. Lu, Nancy’s mother and brother have since been taken to the police station and interrogated. At the time of receiving the news, Lu said that Nancy’s mother had still not been released. Police also ransacked Nancy’s mother’s home searching for Falun Gong books, tapes and other materials.
Friends say Nancy was aware of the severe persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China but missed her family in China and wished to visit them.
Mr. Lu says that he is very concerned for the safety of his wife and desperately wants his daughter back in Australia. Mr. Lu also says Australian Government officials have assured him they are making every effort to bring his daughter back to Australia, but have still not received a response from the Chinese authorities regarding Nancy.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tony Dai: 0416 234 095 or Thomas Dobson: 0414 538 115
Email: [email protected]
Background
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.” It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.
With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), 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.
The European Falun Gong Information Centre has verified details of 557 deaths (reports / sources) 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, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE EUROPEAN FALUN GONG INFORMATION CENTRE
Peter Jauhal 44 (0) 7739 172 452.
More contacts. http://www.falungonginfo.net/europe.htm
Email: [email protected]
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