Speech from Association for Threatened Peoples (Austria): This Persecution Is Completely Irrational and Illogical

The Association for Threatened Peoples (Gesellschaft fuer bedrohte Voelker) cannot see any logic in persecuting people for practicing Falun Gong - a completely non-political meditation system. The brutality that has been targeted at the practitioners is almost unbelievable: forced labor camps and reformation centers, unimaginably cruel torture methods and many other things. The results after three years of this: tens of thousands incarcerated; many hundreds dead as a result of torture while in police custody.

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Today’s Articles — August 01, 2002

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UK Government Report Highlights Hong Kong Authorities' Suppression of Falun Gong and the On-going Court Case

On Tuesday July 23, the UK government published its 11th biannual report on Hong Kong. In the Foreword, the UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, stated that that the basic rights and freedoms afforded to the people of Hong Kong through the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law must continue to be upheld. Clearly referring to the Chinese government's interference and pressure on the Hong Kong authorities, Mr. Straw stated it is vital that this [Hong Kong's] autonomy continues to be respected. The report highlighted the on-going trial of innocent Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong and a number of incidents that were widely regarded as examples of the Hong Kong government's disregard for human rights when pressured by China. The report stated that there have been a number of controversial incidents related to the handling of the Falun Gong practitioners. On March 14, sixteen Falun Gong practitioners, including four from Switzerland, were arrested while appealing outside the Central Peoples' Government Liaison Office. All sixteen were charged with obstruction. The report explained how the Hong Kong government ironically later dug up pavement at the very spot where Falun Gong practitioners were arrested for obstruction. The SAR Government subsequently erected wooden barricades outside the CPG Liaison Office where Falun Gong had staged its daily appeals.

France: Letters of Support from French Government Officials

Letter from French Mayor and M.P.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You invited me to take part in the peaceful demonstration on July 19, 2002 for the Chinese Falun Gong practitioners under persecution.

Speech by Nina Shea Representing Freedom House at Washington DC July 23 Rally

July 23, 2002

[Editor's note: The persecution of Falun Gong in China is the direct result of Jiang and his small group of henchmen's unfounded paranoia and blatant disregard for human rights. Their wishes do not represent the Chinese people as a whole, nor do they represent the Chinese government. In fact, many high-level government officials and Chinese citizens oppose the persecution of Falun Gong.]