Press Releases and Media Reports, Persecution Spreads from China to Europe, Voices of Support, Latest Events
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French Media Article: Hu Jintao in Paris - Complaint by Falun Gong
2004-02-09'The French Falun Gong Association sent a press release on Wednesday 4th February to announce their intention to file a complaint "against the arrests and violence against several dozen Falun Gong practitioners" during the Chinese New Year and President Hu Jintao’s visit to Paris, from the 24th to the 27th of January 2004.' -
France: Press Conference After a Lawsuit is Filed Against the Chinese New Year Arrests in Paris
2004-02-08On February the 5th 2004, the French Falun Gong Association organised a press conference to announce that they would file a complaint against the arrest of Falun Gong practitioners by the French police, which occurred under tremendous pressure from Chinese officials during the Chinese New Year. The press conference was attended by five major national and international media organisations. -
Part II of a Series of Reports on the International Conference for “Genocide in the New Era” in Stockholm
2004-02-08On January 27th 2004, the international conference on “Genocide in the New Era” proceeded into the second day. Thirteen human rights lawyers, law scholars and experts in diplomacy and media from Europe, Asia and North America delivered speeches. The topics of the discussion were of academic importance and highly praised by the delegates. -
Irish MEP Writes to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Regarding Recent Arrests in France
2004-02-08"Could the Presidency call on the French authorities to clarify the arrest policy used during this official visit. Could the Presidency also urge the French authorities to respect the fundamental rights of all European citizens to the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of assembly and freedom from arbitrary arrest." -
UK: Falun Gong Practitioners Join a Health Fair in Wales
2004-02-08On the 1st of February 2004, UK Falun Gong practitioners were invited to attend a Health Fair in Port Talbot, South Wales. During the fair, the Falun Dafa stand and exercise demonstration received an enthusiastic response. Practitioners also used this opportunity to clarify the truth to everybody at this fair and expose the persecution happening in China. The whole activity went very well. -
Discrimination Due to Chinese Embassy's Pressure is Broadly Reported by Major French Media
2004-02-08From January 15 to 26, most major French media including AFP, Le Parisien, L'Humanit, Le Monde, Le Nouvel Observateur and Témoignage Chrétien revealed that the Chinese officials in France had put pressure on Paris to discriminate against Falun Gong. Some revealed that the Chinese regime went as far as threatening to cancel all the New Year activities in Paris if Falun Gong was allowed to participate. And what it meant was that the Chinese consulate was ready to cancel a 210,000 Euros contract with Paris City just to make sure no Falun Gong practitioner would be seen on the spot. -
A Swedish Practitioner Wrote to the President of France to Call for the Upholding of Falun Gong Practitioners' Human Rights
2004-02-08"30 Falun Gong practitioners were detained (some were even handcuffed) in Paris during January 24-27 2004. Some were handing out leaflets to inform about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Some just quietly watched the Chinese parade, and because they wore yellow scarves or clothes with the words “Falun Gong” or “Falun Dafa” they were treated as criminals by French police. Some of them didn't even wear clothes, scarves, or badges of this kind. These actions by the French police against peaceful European citizens are not only unfair, but also against human rights and democracy." -
Letter from a Dutch Government Official Expressing Concern about the Human Rights Situation in China
2004-02-07“The human rights violations in China are very serious. For instance, brutal torture, bad treatment in the prisons, coercing a suspect into admitting guilt, and arbitrary arrest. In addition, the Chinese government strictly restricted freedom of speech and assembly, and the rights of labourers. Meanwhile, in their handling of the dissenters, minority nationalities, religious beliefs, spiritual groups (such as Falun Gong), and criminals who commit general crimes, the Chinese government indicted them with extreme penalties. The Dutch government will pay close attention to the situation." -
Non-Governmental Organisations from Different Countries Gathered in Stockholm for the International Conference on "Genocide in the New Era" (Part 1)
2004-02-07The international conference on “Genocide in the New Era”, organised by “Friends of Falun Gong Europe” and “International Advocates for Justice”, commenced in Stockholm on January 26th 2004. The agenda for the first day covered two topics: “Human Rights Violations in China” and “Development and Law”. Lord Francis Thurlow made the opening address. -
UK: Practitioners held a Press Conference outside the French Embassy in London
2004-02-07UK practitioners called upon the embassy staff to pass on the following message to the French government: During the official visit by Hu Jintao on January 28th, French police were poisoned by the Jiang regime’s relentless spread of its fabricated lies against Falun Gong and used excessive force to arrest and detain seven UK Falun Gong practitioners and practitioners from other countries. -
An Open Letter to the French President from Swedish Dafa Practitioners
2004-02-07"We love France because she has been a country, which prides itself on its independence of thought and will and does not easily bow to the demands of others. However, this incident clearly shows the very integrity and self-will of the French nation have been violated and compromised. We are deeply concerned that the Paris police, at the behest of your government and due to pressure from the Chinese government, has actively helped in the persecution of Falun Gong." -
Austrian Faun Dafa Association Writes to the President of France
2004-02-07"We have deep respect to your great nation for its wonderful culture and its principles, therefore we urge you to apologise for and to take action to rectify this unjust behaviour, so that something like this can never occur again in France. We hope you can also make efforts together with other countries and people to help the millions of people in China who are right now suffering the persecution of Falun Dafa. Please help to end this persecution." -
Lord Hylton Writes to the Editor of The Times: "Chinese policies 'bring suffering'"
2004-02-07After reading an article about "the lavish reception and maximum security afforded to the President of China during his visit to Paris", Lord Hylton wrote to the Editor of The Times (London) on February 2nd 2004. In his letter, Lord Hylton suggested that the persecution "of Falun Gong practitioners and the continued existence of labour camps all might have recommended a more modest welcome" to the Chinese President. He went on to say that he trusts the President of France "will place a higher value on upholding freedom of belief and worship, together with other human rights, wherever these are threatened." -
French National Newspaper L'Humanité Denounces the Attempt by Chinese Officials to Extend Their Persecution Abroad
2004-02-07On January 24th, in an article entitled "What's hidden behind the economic miracle?", national French newspaper L'Humanité exposed the painful burden imposed on the Chinese people by the Jiang regime. It mentioned the "very violent" repression of Falun Gong in China. The article concluded that the absence of Falun Gong from the official parade in Paris displayed once again how hard the Chinese regime strives to hide its crimes and show foreigners a flawless image of the country. -
EFGIC: U.S. Wigs Made by Falun Gong Practitioners Turned Slaves
2004-02-06'Hair product giant Henan Rebecca Inc. is in cahoots with notorious Chinese labour camps that are buying Falun Gong practitioners as slave labour, sources in China say. Labour camps such as Shibalihe and Xuchang buy these people for 800 RMB each (almost $100 US), force them to work day and night, and torture them to death as part of the “reeducation” program.'