Press Releases
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EFGIC: Despite Cosmetic Reforms, U.S. Department of State Says Human Rights in China Backsliding
2004-03-06'The 2003 US Department of State Annual Human Rights Report issued last week, points to China’s degenerating rights practices, some cosmetic beautification not withstanding. “Although legal reforms continued, there was backsliding on key human rights issues during the year,” says the report. One of these key issues is Falun Gong. As in previous years, the severe persecution of the practice is a central concern throughout much of the report, with extensive citing of torture, arbitrary detention, and unlawful killing, as well as denial of freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and association.'
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IFDIC: Falun Gong Practitioners Peacefully Appeal at EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Dublin Castle
2004-02-26'Practitioners of Falun Gong will hold a peaceful demonstration in front of Dublin Castle today and on Friday as officials from Europe and China come together to discuss human rights. This dialogue has been cited by governments across Europe as the proper means to pursue human rights issues with China. However, to date, the proceedings of the dialogue have not been openly disclosed to the media thereby putting little public pressure on the Chinese to improve the situation on the ground.'
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Italian Human Rights Organisation Again Published a Press Release to Declare Support for Falun Gong Practitioners' Human Rights
2004-02-25"There is evidence that the French police used brutal and excessive methods to handle Falun Gong practitioners. They came to Paris to attend the Chinese New Year Celebrations staged by the Chinese and French Governments. The arrested people did not protest. They only wore yellow. Two women were arrested while they walked on the Champs Eylsees. When they asked the reason for their arrest the police said: “You are wearing yellow - today yellow is illegal.”"
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EFGIC: Canadian Author Barred from Hong Kong
2004-02-20'While on tour promoting his book on Falun Gong appeals in Tiananmen Square, a Canadian citizen was barred from Hong Kong. Canadian citizens are normally permitted in Hong Kong for 90 days without a visa, according to the Hong Kong Immigration website, however Zenon Dolnyckyj was prevented from boarding China Airlines flight 619 en route to Hong Kong, the next stop on his book tour.'
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EFGIC: Three U.N. Refugees Go Into Hiding Fearing Chinese Embassy in Cambodia
2004-02-19'Three Chinese citizens holding official United Nations refugee protection cards have gone into hiding fearing the Chinese Embassy might kidnap or even kill them. “These things have already happened here many times,” says Mr. Kan Lykuy, 35. “The Chinese government is so domineering. We are running from place to place and with no money; this is no way to live.” Since last week, Ms. Jiang, Mr. Gao, and Mr. Kan have been receiving threatening phone calls and have reported being followed by spies. They are being chased not only for their beliefs in religions that are not recognized by the Chinese government, but also for supporting practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice severely persecuted in China.'
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EFGIC: 64 Falun Gong Deaths from Torture in China Reported in Three Months
2004-02-13'Between November 2003 and January 2004, reliable sources in China reported details on 64 Falun Gong practitioners who died from severe torture suffered in Chinese detention centres and labour camps. Deaths from torture and abuse were reported in 17 provinces throughout China, from Heilongjiang to Guangxi; from Sichuan to Beijing. Torture techniques reported include severe beatings, electric shocks, force-feeding torture, and injections of nerve-damaging drugs. Among the reported deceased was a 70-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man.'
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Press Statement Regarding Illicit Detainment of Falun Gong Practitioners in France Surrounding Chinese State Visit
2004-02-10'On January 24th and 26th 2004 during China-sponsored cultural activities in Paris as well as Hu Jingtao's visit to the French capital, over 70 Falun Gong practitioners were detained by French police as they stood on the street or were walking near the Champ Elysées. A preliminary statement jointly issued by the Falun Dafa Association and a Boston-based NGO investigating the matter says the detainments were a result of Chinese officials luring a few individuals within the French government (with financial incentives) to order the illicit police action.'
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Dublin Councillors Nominate Resolution Demanding the End of the Persecution of Falun Dafa Practitioners in China and the Release of all Illegally Held Prisoners
2004-02-09'On Monday February the 9th, councillors representing Fingal County Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will vote whether to accept a motion to condemn the persecution of Falun Dafa Practitioners in China. The motion urges the Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen to demand that Dun Laoghaire students Liu Feng and Yang Fang are permitted to return to Ireland to continue their studies during the Human-Rights Dialogue with China held in Dublin on the 26th and 27th of February.'
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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.'
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EFGIC: Chinese Deputy Consul General Found Guilty in Canadian Court for Libel against Falun Gong Practitioner
2004-02-05"Today, Canadian courts have recognized that calling Falun Gong practitioners 'evil cult' members is illegal. I believe this ruling is the correct classification for the hate propaganda that Chinese officials have spread around the world about Falun Gong as an extension of -- and a veil to divert attention away from -- the genocide that is going on in China right now."
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EFGIC: French Police Arrest American, UK, Danish, French Citizens for Wearing Yellow During Chinese State Visit
2004-01-30LONDON (EFGIC) Citizens of the U.S., U.K., Denmark and France were among at least 11 arrested in Paris this past Saturday for wearing clothing with the words Falun Gong on it. These arrests appear to have been an attempt to keep the presence of Falun Gong invisible from the many Chinese groups that took part in a Chinese New Years Day parade.
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EFGIC: The Colour Yellow is Illegal in France!
2004-01-29'During the Chinese New Year celebrations over the last weekend in France, 20 Chinese and Western practitioners were arrested, simply because they wore yellow scarves or yellow sweaters with the words of "Falun Gong" or "Zhen Shan Ren" (meaning Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance). The French police told them that they were arrested because “Yellow was illegal in France”. Even people not wearing yellow, but just wearing blue scarves with the words “Falun Dafa” were arrested.'
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NTDTV Press Release: Summary of the Exclusive Interview with Mr. Li Hongzhi, Founder of Falun Gong
2004-01-27An exclusive interview with Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of the Falun Gong spiritual practice, aired globally at 9:00 p.m. EST January 20, 2004 on New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV). This is the first interview that Mr. Li has granted to media since 1999.
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EFGIC: Landmark Genocide Lawsuit Against Jiang Zemin on Firm Ground, Says Appeal Filed Today
2004-01-23Dr. Terri Marsh, lead attorney in the ground-breaking lawsuit against former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin and the 6-10 Office, filed a 60-page brief this morning in the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. The brief asks the Circuit Court to reverse the decision of the U.S. District Court and allow the case to go forward.
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EFGIC Press Release: European MEP Urges Paris not to Yield to Pressure from Chinese Regime
2004-01-20"Next weekend (22-25 January) the Chinese regime will be arriving in Paris. Among the 5000 people coming, there will be many Chinese high officials. The image is one of a beautiful cultural show, friendship between nations … but yet there is also a hidden dark side - many have been excluded from the festivities."