UK: Letter from Falun Gong Association to Prime Minister of Burma

Prime Minister of Burma
Government of Burma
Rangoon
Burma

Dear Sir

I am writing to call for the immediate release of 71-year-old Falun Gong practitioner Mr CHAN Wing-Yuen.

Mr CHAN Wing-Yuen, a 71-year-old Hong Kong resident and Falun Gong practitioner was visiting his relatives in Burma in 2001 when he heard that the Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin was visiting the country. On 12/12/01, he held a little banner that reads "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance", - the core values of Falun Gong, and stood quietly by the road leading to the airport. He was quickly arrested and on 31/1/02 secretly sentenced to 7 years in prison.

The arrest and incarceration of Mr Chan is a violation of the human rights of Mr Chan and internationally recognised norms of legal practice. The freedom of Mr Chan should be restored immediately.

Falun Gong is a health-inducing set of exercises based on ancient insights into the human mind, body and spirit. It is entirely peaceful and promotes the traditional values Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. The five sets of exercises of Falun Gong are tranquil and meditative. Its benefits include health, happiness and meaningful living.

You may be aware of the inhumane treatment being constantly levelled at Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese authorities. To justify their brutal crackdown, the Chinese government launched an intensive defamation campaign against Falun Gong. During the past 30 months, intimidation, torture and prison sentences are commonplace for hundreds and thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China. We know of at least 557 deaths resulting from torture and ill treatment in police custody. Please take serious note of the fact that despite the persecution not a single act of retaliation has been reported.

Since the crackdown in July 1999, Falun Gong has gained worldwide support from many governments and international organisations. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 15 Feb. 2001 calling on the regime in China to respect the human rights of the practitioners. About 100 UK MPs, MEPs and Peers as well as the UK Foreign Secretary have expressed support for the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners. Amnesty International has produced several reports detailing many atrocities suffered by Falun Gong practitioners. The US Congress passed a resolution unanimously in July 2002 criticising the suppression.

We urge you to pay immediate attention to the imprisonment of Mr Chan and do everything possible to ensure immediate restoration of his freedom.

Yours sincerely