News and Events from around the World -- October 31, 2005

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content

  • Washington, DC: Chinese Communist Party Governor Does Not Show Up, Fearing Lawsuits

  • Toronto: Deputy CCP Provincial Secretary Sued in Canada for Persecuting Falun Gong in China

  • New York City: Practitioners Read Falun Dafa Association Statement Urging CCP Officials to Abandon the Evil Path and Choose to Be Good

  • Korean: Practitioners Read the Falun Dafa Association Announcement in Front of the Chinese Embassy

  • Germany: Falun Gong Practitioners Expose the Persecution Prior to Hu Jintao's Visit to Germany

  • Montreal, Canada: The International "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Fine Arts Exhibition Opens



  • Washington, DC: Chinese Communist Party Governor Does Not Show Up, Fearing Lawsuits

    On October 25, the chief perpetrator of the persecution of Falun Gong in Guangdong Province, Governor Huang Huahua, did not show up in Washington DC in a provincial delegation. Reportedly, Huang was scheduled to visit the Capitol on October 25. Several days ago, during Huang's visit to Canada, he was sued for his role in the persecution of Falun Gong by practitioners and served with a court summons. On October 17, U.S. attorneys also filed a lawsuit against Huang for torture. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice received a request to deny entry to Huang. These departments also received related materials as background information. The general media speculated that the change to Huang's itinerary was related to the lawsuits against him.

    Recently, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials who have persecuted Falun Gong have repeatedly faced civil lawsuits during their overseas visits. For example, CCP Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai was to visit Canada and the U.S. with President Hu Jintao. Under overwhelming calls for denying entry of human rights perpetrators to Canada, Bo's name disappeared from Hu's list of delegates.

    In addition, Xia Deren, Dalian Mayor and deputy governor of Liaoning Province, also didn't visit Canada at the end of September as planned. Falun Gong practitioners submitted Xia's name to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for monitoring. When the public learned that Xia was to visit Canada on a trip to promote commerce between China and Canada, many media outlets reported on his relationship with the persecution of Falun Gong. In the end, Xia didn't come.


    U.S. Department of Justice

    Acknowledgement of receipt

    Huang Huahua Sued For Torture During His Visit to U.S. and Canada

    Since the recent announcement of the intent of the Falun Dafa Association to sue perpetrators of the persecution, Huang Huahua was the first high-ranking CCP official responsible for the persecution who traveled from the Mainland to visit other countries.

    On the morning of October 14, 2005, International Advocates for Justice and Human Rights Law Project filed a criminal complaint to the U.S. Federal Court in Northern California against Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Province, for crimes of torture. The complaint also asked the federal courts to thoroughly investigate Huang's crimes and to carry out a criminal trial of those who have committed crimes of torture outside the U.S., in accordance with federal laws. In the meantime, the complaint requested the Federal Court to inform U.S. Customs, Immigration Office, Homeland Security and the FBI about Huang Huahua's crimes.

    At 3:17 p.m. on Monday, October 17, a criminal petition was filed with the US Attorney's Office, Criminal Division, charging Huang Huahua with acts of torture in violation of the criminal laws of the United States. Title 18, Section 2340 makes acts of torture committed outside the U.S. subject to criminal prosecution in this country. The Executive Director of International Advocates for Justice, Attorney Han, and the Executive Director of Human Rights Law Project, Attorney Marsh filed the petition. In a separate cover letter addressed to the US Attorney, Kenneth L. Wainstein, the attorneys for Falun Gong stated:

    "Mr. Huang has played a major role in carrying out numerous acts of torture and genocide in connection with a six year campaign of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners that has been waged by many high-level officials of the Chinese Government and the Chinese Communist Party, as instituted by former President of China Jiang Zemin. These abuses violate international human rights standards, the law and Constitution of China, and the criminal laws of the United States. We therefore call upon you to promptly investigate these criminal charges, initiate the criminal prosecution of Mr. Xuang, and secure his arrest pending completion of your investigation so that he cannot flee prosecution by returning to China."

    On the morning of October 21, the day after Huang arrived in Vancouver, Huang received a summons from the British Columbia (BC) Superior Court while on a boat ride to Victoria (the capital of BC). On October 20, Falun Gong practitioner Kevin Duan, who has recently moved to Canada from Mainland China and was brutally persecuted in a forced labor camp and brainwashing sessions in Guangzhou, filed a lawsuit charging Huang for harshly persecuting him and other practitioners during Huang's tenure as party secretary and governor.


    Practitioner Kevin Duan recounted his suffering in Guangdong under Huang's tenure

    Attorney Writes to Secretary Chertoff of Homeland Security

    Attorney Terri Marsh, Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Project, wrote to Secretary Chertoff of Homeland Security on October 17, 2005. Attorney Marsh stated in her letter, "We are writing this letter to bring to your attention the upcoming visit of Mr. Huang Huahua to the District of Columbia on or around October 25, 2005. We request that this individual be prevented from entering the U.S. as the law requires, or if he is admitted, that admittance be allowed to take place only for the purpose of subjecting him to criminal prosecution as required under our treaty commitments under the Convention Against Torture, and U.S. laws implementing these treaties."

    Attorney Marsh further stated in her letter, "We also think it is important to point out that U.S. customs and immigration law prohibits entry of torturers and others who commit major human rights abuses, and that the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be alerted to their responsibility to more effectively prevent the entry of those who have committed major crimes against humanity, as Mr. Huang has done."

    On the afternoon of October 18, the letter and criminal petition were delivered to the Department of Homeland Security in Washington DC.


    Copy of Attorney Terri Marsh's letter to Secretary Chertoff of Homeland Security and acknowledgement of receipt

    WOIPFG Implements a Global Monitoring and Tracking System

    After the Falun Dafa Association made an announcement on October 9, the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) implemented a global monitoring and tracking system.

    The WOIPFG announced on October 16: "A global monitoring and tracking system has been implemented, consisting of human rights organizations and individuals located in nearly 300 cities in more than 70 countries. The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong is coordinating its operation. The goal of the system is to monitor and keep track of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese government officials who are actively involved in the persecution of Falun Gong, so as to assist victims in pursuing legal actions in a timely manner. The tracking system focuses on those who give orders, arrest, brainwash, abuse, torture, and murder Falun Gong practitioners, and those who are directly involved in blocking information, instigating the media [to report false news or withhold news about Falun Gong], and sentencing practitioners without legal basis."

    Those Involved in Persecution of Falun Gong Face Final Choice

    The Executive Director of International Advocates for Justice, Attorney Han, said, "Along with the exposure and further investigation of the persecution, more and more people and organizations have learned about the evil nature of the persecution. Many Chinese officials have expressed a willingness to change their behavior and correct their mistakes. However, some officials like Huang continue committing crimes against humanity. They will be held responsible for what they have done and brought to justice."

    The WOIPFG urges those who are persecuted and other people of conscience in China to assist in monitoring and tracking provincial, regional, municipal, and county officials and staff who continue to persecute Falun Gong, as well as the CCP officials who are directly responsible for the persecution. In particular, information is sought regarding the perpetrators' overseas visits. Wherever possible, reports should include name, gender, age, position, and facial characteristics (photo would be best), the country, city, and time of visit, and whether they have any illegal assets or commercial activities overseas. Please send the information to the WOIPFG or forward it through reliable channels.

    The WOIPFG urges those who are willing to change their behavior and correct their mistakes to send their guarantee statements or letters of regret through safe channels to the Minghui/Clearwisdom website.

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/10/29/113423.html


    Toronto: Deputy CCP Provincial Secretary Sued in Canada for Persecuting Falun Gong in China

    On October 28, 2005, Lin Yanzhi, deputy Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Jinlin Province, was sued in Toronto for his role in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Li is the second CCP official sued by overseas practitioners for persecution after the publication of the Falun Dafa Association Statement. (/emh/articles/2005/10/9/65726.html)


    September 9, 2005, Canadian practitioners gathered at Parliament Hill to call for punishment of persecutors

    Lin was the director of the Jilin Province 610 Office. In this position, Lin directed and was personally involved in "converting" practitioners with torture. The direct involvement of high-ranking officials in such atrocities is rare. The persecution of Falun Gong in Jilin province was especially severe among all the provinces in China. As of September 2005, it has been verified that 322 practitioners have been persecuted to death in Jilin, the 4th highest in term of deaths.

    According to Kevin Yang, a spokesman for the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), Lin's involvement in the persecution was reported to the organization on October 27, and the organization located the whereabouts of Lin in just a few hours. On the 28th, a persecution victim who was brutally persecuted in Jilin city, Jilin province filed a civil lawsuit against Lin in the Ontario Superior Court.

    The Canadian Falun Dafa Association then submitted evidence of Lin's involvement in the persecution to the Canadian Royal Mounted Police (CRMP) and requested the CRMP to launch an investigation of Lin's crimes, and arrest and deport him according to Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program.

    Kevin Yang said: "Lin's words and deeds during the persecution were inhumane and unconscionable. Lin is regarded as one of the most notorious high-ranking officials. According to a persecution investigation report of the WOIPFG in 2001, Lin went to forced labor camps and brainwashing centers in Siping, Songyuan and Changchun to both direct and participate in persecution.

    Lin Yanzhi: "Torture Falun Gong Practitioners Without Mercy, Beat Them to Death"

    According to WOIPFG's investigation, when inspecting the progress of the "conversion of Falun Gong practitioners" at Siping City Forced Labor Camp, Lin said: "If you refuse to denounce Falun Gong after one year of detention, we will detain you for two years; if two years is not enough, then three years; if you refuse to convert (denounce Falun Gong) after three years of detention, we will detain you for ten years. In China, there are about 100,000 steadfast practitioners. China has 1.2 billion people, if these 100,000 refuse to convert, we can do anything to them--we can suppress or kill them. One hundred thousand is just a small number for us. Even if we kill all 2 million practitioners, the reign of our communist party won't be affected...If you refuse to denounce Falun Gong, we will beat you without mercy, we can beat you to death. We'd rather beat you to death than allow you to go to Beijing..."

    On August 30, Lin visited the Songyuan City 610 Office and ordered police to drag practitioner Xin Guoqian out and beat him brutally. After Xin was covered with cuts and bruises all over, Lin unlawfully ordered Xin to be detained in a forced labor camp for a year.

    The Second Chinese Communist Official Sued after Publication of Falun Dafa Association Statement

    On October 9, the Falun Dafa Association issued a statement to warn CCP officials to stop persecuting Falun Gong. The statement said: "From today on, overseas Falun Gong practitioners will file civil or criminal lawsuits against all important government or CCP officials who participate in or continue to implement the persecution of Falun Gong and as a result, commit new crimes in addition to those they have already perpetrated against Falun Gong."

    Toronto practitioners said that Lin is the second provincial level official sued after publication of the statement. One week ago, Guandong Governor Huang Huahua was sued in a Vancouver court for the crime of torture. Fearing to face justice, Huang terminated his visit to North America and fled back to China from Canada on October 25, 2005.

    Reportedly, in September, the Canadian Falun Dafa Association asked the Federal Government to deny entry to CCP Minister of Commerce and former Liaoning governor Bo Xilai and deputy governor Xia Deren. Bo and Xia are both major perpetrators of the persecution, and neither of them was able to visit Canada as scheduled.

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/10/29/113422.html


    New York City: Practitioners Read Falun Dafa Association Statement Urging CCP Officials to Abandon the Evil Path and Choose to Be Good

    At around noontime on October 27, dozens of practitioners in the Greater New York area gathered at the Chinese Consulate to read the Falun Dafa Association statement urging all officials to stop the persecution, abandon the evil path and choose to be good.


    Practitioners rally in front of Chinese Consulate to read the statement

    Practitioner Weixun Li, who recently came to the U.S. with help from the U.S. government and non-governmental organizations, recounted the persecution from which her family has suffered. While locked in a detention center, Li was subjected to endless torture and mental abuse, her limbs were held in place and she had unknown itchy blotches all over her body. Later, she fell into a coma and the hospital issued a death alert. To shun responsibility, the Shenyang 610 Office allowed her family to bail her out for medical treatment. Li said: "Though I am free now, my brother, a non-practitioner, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for rescuing me and other practitioners. He is now suffering in Dabei prison. We are here to call for their release."


    The statement solemnly stated: Ever since the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, Chinese people have more clearly recognized the nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the evil nature of the persecution. More than 4.8 million have withdrawn from the CCP and its related organizations. Heaven's destruction of the CCP is a historical inevitability. Gods will punish those criminals who have sinned against Falun Gong. Those who refuse to do the right thing and instead continue to follow Jiang Zemin's scoundrel regime's persecution policies will be severely punished as perpetrators of unforgivable crimes.

    At this critical historical moment, the Falun Dafa Association has made a special announcement: From today on, overseas Falun Gong practitioners will file civil or criminal lawsuits against all important government or CCP officials who participate in or continue to implement the persecution of Falun Gong, and as a result commit new crimes in addition to those they have already perpetrated against Falun Gong.

    Practitioner Rong Yi said: Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua was sued when he just started his commercial visit to Canada, and he is the first CCP official sued for persecution after the statement was published. On October 20, Falun Gong practitioner Kevin Duan, who was brutally persecuted in a forced labor camp and brainwashing sessions in Guangzhou, filed a lawsuit charging Huang for persecuting him and other practitioners. On the afternoon of October 18, lawsuit papers and related letters against Huang, who was to visit Washington DC, were delivered to U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.

    Reportedly, since the statement was published, several human rights group and a number of individuals have launched a global monitoring and tracking system in nearly 300 cities in more than 70 countries. The goal of the system is to monitor and keep track of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese government officials who are actively involved in the persecution of Falun Gong, so as to assist victims in pursuing legal actions in a timely manner.

    The WOIPFG expressed that it urges those who are willing to change their behavior and correct their mistakes to send their statements or letters of regret through safe channels to the Minghui/Clearwisdom website. The organization also warned those who continue to persecute Falun Gong not to underestimate people's determination and ability to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/10/29/113366.html


    Korean: Practitioners Read the Falun Dafa Association Announcement in Front of the Chinese Embassy

    On October 24, Korean practitioners in different areas went to the Chinese Embassy and local consulates to deliver the Falun Dafa Association statement that was first published on October 9. (/emh/articles/2005/10/9/65726.html)


    Practitioner Chengnu Gao reads the statement in front of the Chinese embassy

    Local media report the gathering

    A practitioner gives a background introduction for the statement

    In front of Chinese embassy, some practitioners in Seoul and media outlets participated in the activity. A practitioner first gave a background introduction of the statement. He said:

    "From July 20, 1999, dictator Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party banned Falun Gong and started a most brutal persecution. In the past 6 years, tens of millions of practitioners have been interrogated. Hundreds of thousands have been sent to forced labor camps without trials. Several thousand practitioners have lost their lives because of the persecution. The exact number of practitioners who have been sent to mental hospitals for persecution remains unknown. We must stop the CCP's brutal human rights violations against practitioners. From now on, all those who continue to persecute Falun Gong and have chosen to take a self-destructive path will be held accountable without exception."

    After his introduction, Chennu Gao, who was imprisoned in China for his belief in Falun Gong, read the Falun Dafa Association statement.

    After Mr. Gao, representatives of the Korean Falun Dafa Association delivered the statement to the Chinese Embassy. The practitioners then went to a nearby Chinese Consulate to hold a similar event and deliver the statement.

    On the same day, practitioners in South Korea also gathered at the Chinese Consulate in Busan to read the statement and call on Chinese officials to forsake their evil path and choose to be good. A copy of the statement was also delivered to the consulate.


    A practitioner reads the Falun Dafa Association statement in front of Chinese consulate

    The consulate had many visitors

    Gathering in front of Busan consulate

    Full text of the statement can be viewed at http://clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2005/10/9/65726.html

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/10/28/113316.html


    Germany: Falun Gong Practitioners Expose the Persecution Prior to Hu Jintao's Visit to Germany

    On October 27 and 28, 2005, the nationwide tour of a human rights photo exhibition entitled, "Shameful Regions" reached Cologne. The exhibition was held on Rudolf Platz in Cologne central. As the direct victims of the Chinese Communist regime's human rights violations, the Falun Gong group was invited to join the exhibition tour and gave live re-enactments of the tortures to expose the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.


    Representative of international human rights organization addressing the opening ceremony

    Chen Yonglin and Hao Fengjun were invited to attend the press conference.

    Mr. Chen Yonglin and Hao Fengjun, who publicly renounced the CCP, were invited to attend the press conference of the photo exhibition. They used their personal experiences to expose the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. Former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin said that his job in the Chinese Consulate at Sydney was to implement the policy to confine Falun Gong practitioners' living space. The Chinese communist regime spent a large amount of money to bribe developing countries, western countries and some small countries so as to make them give up on criticizing CCP's human rights violation. This is the reason why during the annual human rights convention each year, the U.S. proposed resolution on Chinese Communist regime's human rights status was hindered. Hao Fengjun was a policeman suppressing drug abuse. Later he was transferred to the municipal 610 Office to monitor Falun Gong. When he witnessed Falun Gong practitioners being brutally beaten, he requested to transfer back to his original work unit. However, the 610 Office did not allow any personnel to quit. After his request was turned down, he had no choice but to flee to another country. His experience indicated that many kind-hearted people in China were coerced to participate in the persecution of Falun Gong.


    Falun Gong practitioners calling to stop the persecution

    Passersby signing the petition against the persecution

    Signing the petition against the persecution

    Hu Jintao, the Chinese Communist Party's leader, will visit Germany in early November. Falun Gong practitioners introduced the news to the German people and collected signatures to appeal to the German President Köhle, hoping that he will help stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China. One after another, people passing by signed the petition against the persecution. A number of people expressed their gratitude towards the practitioners for what they have done. They thanked the practitioners for letting them learn about what is happening in China. At present, Germany and China have a close trade relationship, and some German people believed that the German government would consider the economic interest first. Practitioners explained to them that a healthy trade relationship needs a good social environment. Ending the persecution will help the healthy development of the society that will benefit foreign investors.

    There was an interesting episode during the signature collection. A more than one-year-old baby girl came over the exhibition booth by herself. She fixed her eyes on practitioners who were doing the exercises and smiled sweetly for about one minute until her aunt came over to pick her up. Her aunt did not notice the Falun Gong exhibition booth initially, but because of this she had the opportunity to learn about the persecution in China. She signed the petition and showed her great interest in learning the Falun Gong exercises. Practitioners gave her relevant materials. An older lady was indignant towards the human rights violations after she viewed the photo exhibition. However, when practitioners asked her to sign the petition, she refused. She said that she had signed many similar petitions and now she does not think signing the petition would be effective. Practitioners introduced the effects of petitions launched in other countries but still could not convince her. In the end, a practitioner gave her a flyer about Falun Gong and told her that she will like it. The lady, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around and held the practitioner's hands and said, "Please don't be discouraged by people like me who have different opinions. What you are doing is right, please be persistent."


    Photo exhibition reveals the true situation about the human rights violations in communist countries

    The two-day photo exhibition concluded. Many German people told practitioners, "It's really a shame. There must be more people coming to visit the exhibition if you could stay at Cologne for a few more days and conduct the exhibition in all districts in Cologne." It was already quite late when the exhibition concluded. When staff members were loading the photos onto a truck, in the street lamps' dim light, some people who walked by still viewed the photos that were not moved to the truck yet. There are so many kind-hearted people who have a sense of justice in the world. Their actions are the greatest form of support against the persecution.

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/10/30/113443.html


    Montreal, Canada: The International "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Fine Arts Exhibition Opens

    The International "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Fine Arts Exhibition held a grand opening at 5:30 p.m. on October 26, 2005, at Gallery Gora in downtown Montreal.


    Sculpture "Buddha"

    Visitors view the painting, "Positioning"

    Ms. Yang, a practitioner in charge of coordinating the exhibition, said that the artworks show the inner meanings of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and expose the persecution against Falun Gong occurring in China.

    Professor Zhang Kunlun, a sculptor, was sent to forced labor camp in China for persisting in practicing Falun Gong, and became well known in 2001 for being rescued to Canada. Professor R. Lynn Studham of McGill University attended the opening ceremony. He said that Prof. Zhang worked with him for one year as a visiting professor. He was pleased to attend the exhibition and to see that Mr. Zhang is able to work freely outside of China.


    Young practitioners from Montreal sing, "Be Saved" during the opening ceremony

    Canadian Members of Parliament David Kilgour and Roger Clavet sent congratulatory letters to the exhibition. MP Kilgour said that those people who follow the universal principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" are being persecuted cruelly in China. He said that righteousness will prevail and those wrongdoers will be brought to justice.

    MP Meili Faille sent a representative, Mr. Guy Grenier from Ottawa, to support the exhibition. After viewing all the works, Mr. Grenier said that through these works he understood more about Falun Gong.

    Exhibit viewer Mr. Andrew Sarazin said that the exhibition was very meaningful and that the persecution in China should not be happening.

    Artist Kathleen Gillis from Ottawa, who attended the opening ceremony, is a Falun Gong practitioner. Her painting "The Heavens Speak" illustrates her personal experience. When China's former leader, Jiang Zemin, visited Houston, Texas in October 2002, thousands of people who practice Falun Gong went there to appeal for an end to the persecution. During their appeal, practitioners withstood several days of severe cold weather and heavy rain. The practitioners refused to be affected by the weather and stood their ground. Finally, the storm cleared and a huge rainbow appeared in the sky. This painting captures that moment.

    Ms. Gillis introduced the fine arts exhibition to the exhibition guests. The "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" International Art Exhibition consists of five sections: "Enlightenment," "The Beauty of Cultivation," "Uncompromising Courage," "Calling for Justice," and "Justice Prevails."

    Carole, representing Amnesty International Montreal, Mr. Xun Li of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada and more than 60 viewers attended the opening ceremony. Mr. Luo Liegang, a Montreal artist, gave a musical performance on a traditional Chinese instrument to congratulate the exhibition.

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/10/28/113313.html