Epoch Times: Chan Wing-Yuen Secretly Sentenced to Prison in Myanmar; Washington DC Dafa Practitioners Call for His Release (Photo)

Epoch Times Daily report from Washington DC -- On Friday, January 24, Washington DC Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Myanmar Embassy and called for the release of Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioner Chen Wing-yuen. Free Myanmar Coalition members also came to join the appeal. The Myanmar Embassy refused to open the door to accept practitioners' appeal letter.

Mr. Chan, 71 years old, is a Hong Kang Falun Gong practitioner. In 2001, he went back to Myanmar to visit his relatives there. After learning that Jiang would visit Rangoon at the end of 2001, he decided to stage a peaceful protest and unfurled a small banner that read Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance on the road leading to the airport on December 12, 2001. Myanmar police arrested him before Jiang's arrival. On January 31, 2002, he was secretly sentenced to a heavy term of seven years in prison without the presence of his attorney or family. He is currently imprisoned in a jail in Rangoon.

Mr. Dan Beeton, Campaign Coordinator of the Free Burma Coalition, said, "Myanmar's military regime has been suppressing people with different political views. This time they threw a Hong Kong resident into jail just because he unfurled a banner that read "Compassion." [...] He added, "As an American and a member of the international community, I do not think what happens in China or in Myanmar does not concern me. I think it is my responsibility to let everyone in the world enjoy democracy and human rights."

The illegal imprisonment of Mr. Chan is actually the result of Jiang regime's pressure on Myanmar authorities. The Chinese Consulate in Myanmar and Myanmar police have frequently demanded that Mr. Chan write a "guarantee statement" and promise to give up Falun Gong, but Mr. Chan has steadfastly refused. It was learned that Mr. Chan is persisting in his faith even in prison and is still practicing Falun Gong.

The jailing of Mr. Chen is another case of the Jiang regime's extension of its persecution overseas through its influence and control. In August of 2002, under the pressure of the Jiang regime, the Cambodian government violated international conventions and repatriated a Chinese couple who had obtained UN asylum status. In October of last year, police in the United Arab Emirates arrested Falun Gong practitioner Wang Yuzhi under the pressure of the Chinese embassy and intended to deport her back to China. She was rescued with the help of the Canadian government.