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News and Events from Around the World
-- December 16, 2005
Issued by Clearwisdom Net
NEWS - Dec. 15, 2005 Falun Dafa Information Center [ http://www.faluninfo.net/ ]
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The incident took place Wednesday, December 14, in broad daylight beginning at 10:30A.M. local time, outside Argentina's National Congress in Buenos Aires. Several members of the Falun Gong group were injured in the assault, including women. Banners and poster displays documenting rights violations in China were wrestled from the Falun Gong and stolen by the assailants.
The nature of the stolen items - human rights materials - strongly suggest political motivations and backing.
The assault is believed to have taken place in connection with the visit to Buenos Aires Wednesday of top-ranking official, Luo Gan, who formerly headed China's secret Falun Gong Control Office, the "6-10 Office." Luo was served with a lawsuit in Argentina on Tuesday, one day prior to the assault, for his involvement in genocide against the Falun Gong in China. Victims and witnesses at the scene described the assault as "highly-organized" and "terribly violent." One man was seen being beaten to the ground and then kicked repeatedly while down. Witnesses had their cameras and film wrestled from their hands by several unidentified Chinese men. One member of the Falun Gong group had a cell phone stolen.
FDI is additionally concerned by multiple first-hand accounts that Argentinean police did little to stop the assault. Police, though at the scene, were said to respond "very timidly," and didn't react even when they themselves received blows from the Chinese attackers. One witness even told of police shielding an assailant after upset bystanders tried to intervene. Police did not arrest or question any members of the attacking group.
Witnesses have surmised that Argentinean police knew about the attack in advance and were instructed, at promptings from Chinese officials, not to intervene. The Chinese assailants were seen later in the day outside the nearby Sheraton Hotel, where Luo Gan was reportedly present. The assailants are believed to be part of the Chinese delegation or members of the Chinese Embassy in Argentina.
Disturbing, Global Pattern of Instigation
Wednesday's assault fits into a disturbing pattern of violence, intimidation, and rights violations in connection with visits by Chinese officials around the world. It appears that in each case Chinese authorities have used economic and political clout to pressure host-country governments.
Past incidents of a similar nature span a range of countries. In South Africa, June of 2004, gunmen opened fire on a car of visiting Chinese Falun Gong adherents; the group had just arrived in Johannesburg and planned to serve a Chinese official with a lawsuit for human rights crimes. In Chicago the CCP has sent individuals to physically assault Falun Gong demonstrators who sit outside the PRC consulate. On another occasion there a car was firebombed in broad daylight.
In January of 2004 French authorities arrested over 70 Falun Gong for "wearing the color yellow" or clothing with the words "Falun Gong" while China's president visited. Icelandic officials adopted a "blacklist," provided by Chinese agents, to bar entry of Falun Gong demonstrators during a June 2002 visit by China's president--a decision the Icelandic Ombudsman recently ruled to be illegal. Myanmar authorities, meanwhile, arrested a 71-year-old man and sentenced him to seven years in prison for raising a banner reading "truth, compassion, tolerance" when China's president visited the nation in December of 2002.
"The free world needs to promptly, and decisively, say that this is wrong and must stop," said FDI spokesperson Mr. Erping Zhang. "China's regime should have no forum anywhere for its draconian policies of control. Assaults like these should never happen in China, much less free, democratic nations. If this is the cost of China's economic friendship, it is a Faustian deal of the worst sort that world leaders are cutting. It's a terrible sell out."
FDI is calling for Argentinian authorities to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into the incident, and further requesting the assistance of any and all international agencies that might help to investigate the larger pattern of violence and human rights abuses carried out by agents of the Chinese Communist Party against Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world, including Burma, France, Mexico, Germany, and Russia (news).
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NEWS - Dec. 15, 2005
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net
When Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Malaysia from December 11 to 15, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Malaysia held peaceful protest activities in front of the Chinese Embassy and at the conference site for the East Asia Summit, to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. Practitioners held a banner reading, "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Zhou Yongkang and Liu Jing to Justice," as well as banners with other truth clarification messages.
 Calling for an end to the persecution in front of the Chinese Embassy |
 A letter to Wen Jiabao, calling for him to stop the persecution |
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Calling for an end to the persecution in front of the conference center where the East Asia Summit was held
On December 13, Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy to call for an end to the persecution, and at the same time requested the embassy to deliver a letter to Wen Jiabao calling for him to take steps to stop the persecution. The Chinese Embassy refused to take the letter.
Falun Gong practitioners also protested in front of the conference site for the East Asia Summit. At the noon break, people going out for lunch took flyers from the practitioners in order to learn about the situation in China. Vehicles passing by slowed down to view the practitioners' photo boards. Some delegates from foreign countries attending the summit showed their support to practitioners by giving them the thumbs-up sign. Some delegates also inquired about the persecution in China. An Indonesian man shook hands with a practitioner to express his support.
In the short period of 20 minutes, Falun Gong practitioners were in close proximity to Wen Jiabao's car and a bus carrying Chinese delegates who saw the Falun Gong photo boards.
On December 14, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Chicago held a peaceful protest in front of the Thai Consulate regarding the Thai police's violation of human rights. The practitioners hoped that the Thai government would not succumb to the malevolent Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and would stop harassing and assaulting Falun Gong practitioners.
 Reading an open letter in front of the Thai Consulate |
 Practitioners peacefully protest in the snow |
In front of the Thai Consulate, in a light snow, practitioners held banners reading, "Thailand, please respect Falun Gong practitioners' human rights," and, "Falun Dafa is Good." A representative for the practitioners read an open letter to the Thai Consulate-General, which stated that on December 10, International Human Rights Day, opposite the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Falun Gong practitioners peacefully protesting there were rudely interfered with by Thai police under the instigation of the Chinese embassy. Several dozen uniformed police and plainclothes police crossed the road and forcibly searched practitioners' bags, dragged practitioners away and grabbed their banners. When practitioners clarified the truth to the police and exposed the Chinese Embassy's wrongdoing, some police officers expressed that they did not want to harass the practitioners, but the Chinese Embassy asked them to do so.
The open letter also expressed that in the past more than six years of peaceful resistance, Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China have been subjected to unimaginable and inhuman torture and abuses, while Falun Gong has been well received in over 80 countries around the world. Thailand is one of the countries that initially supported and welcomed Falun Gong. The Thai government is very clear that Falun Gong benefits people both physically and mentally, and does no harm to anybody. However, the malevolent CCP has extended its persecution of Falun Gong outside China. Some countries feel compelled to violate their own country's fundamental interests for the sake of economic benefit, and have succumbed to the malevolent CCP. Chicago practitioners hoped that Thailand would not become one of those countries.
Falun Gong practitioners finally expressed two points in their open letter: One, stop encroaching on Falun Gong practitioners' human rights, and the other point asked the Thai government not to succumb to the CCP and undermine the foundational philosophy of Thailand.
A representative for Falun Gong entered the consulate and further talked with a consul and delivered the letter.
At noon on December 14, 2005, several dozen Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Thai Consulate in Toronto to protest the Thai police's acts of violence against Falun Gong practitioners who peacefully protested in front of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
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Falun Gong practitioners protest in front of the Thai Consulate
On December 10, 2005, in order to protest the rape of Falun Gong practitioners by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) policeman He Xuejian, Falun Gong practitioners held a quiet sit-in on the roadside opposite the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. They clarified the truth and handed out truth-clarification materials to passersby to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. Around noon, several police officers and vehicles came in and out of the Chinese embassy. Several dozen uniformed police and plainclothes police crossed the road and forcibly searched practitioners' bags, dragged practitioners away and grabbed their banners, causing injury to practitioners and their personal belongings. When the practitioners told the police about Falun Gong and exposed the Chinese Embassy's wrongdoing, several police officers expressed that they did not want to come harass them, but the Chinese Embassy asked them to do so.
Representative for Falun Gong practitioners, Kevin Yang, pointed out that the Thai police's rude behavior has seriously violated Falun Gong practitioners' human rights. In particular, when the international community unanimously condemns the CCP's atrocities against Falun Gong practitioners, and condemns the biggest human rights abuse in modern times, that such a thing occurred in Thailand is extremely disgraceful. Mr. Yang called for Thailand not to dance with a "wolf."
A representative for the Canadian Falun Dafa Association, Zhang Zhaojin, announced the latest news from Thailand: The Thai police threatened that if practitioners went to the Chinese Embassy again, they would arrest them. Today (December 14) practitioners did not plan to go to the embassy in Bangkok; they went to Pattaya, 150 km away from Bangkok. However, the police arrested three practitioners who handed out truth-clarification materials there. The practitioners arrested are Zhang Mengye, Luo Muluan and Jia Yachuan.
Zhang Mengye was a former senior lecturer at Guangdong Provincial Electric Power School, and was a fellow classmate of Chinese President Hu Jintao at Tsinghua University. On January 14, 2000, Mr. Zhang was arrested and sent to Guangzhou City No.1 Forced Labor Camp to serve a more than two-year term. He was once handcuffed to a big tree for three consecutive days, and was put in agonizing positions where he could neither stand nor squat. On May 18, 2002, Zhang Mengye was arrested again by personnel from the 610 Office and sent to a brainwashing center in Huangpu, Guangzhou City to undergo brutal brainwashing. On several occasions, he was tied up tightly and lifted upside down, and his head dunked into a toilet bowl in an extremely foul and brutal torture. Zhang Mengye successfully left Mainland China on November 11, 2005.
Zhang Zhaojin delivered a letter to the Thai Consulate in Toronto. The letter called for the Thai police to immediately release the three Falun Gong practitioners arrested. In addition, it asked Thailand not to fall prey to the CCP's lies, not to succumb to CCP pressure and instead, to help stop the persecution against Falun Gong.
Representatives of the Falun Dafa Association in Houston and several Falun Gong practitioners went to the Thai Consulate in Houston to clarify the truth about Falun Gong on the afternoon of December 14, 2005.
The Falun Dafa Association delivered a letter to the consulate concerning the recent incident of Thai Police violating Falun Gong practitioners' human rights. The Thai official of the Thai Consulate didn't know about Falun Gong. Representatives of the Falun Dafa Association told him that Falun Gong is a peaceful practice consisting of gentle exercises, meditation, and self-improvement. Practitioners practice themselves by following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been persecuting Falun Gong since July 20, 1999. Two women Falun Gong practitioners were recently raped by a CCP policeman. On hearing of this tragedy, Falun Gong practitioners in Thailand demonstrated in front of the Chinese Embassy to Thailand and distributed flyers to expose and protest against the rape. On December 10, International Human Right Day, several Thai policemen and vehicles entered the Chinese Embassy. Under instruction from the Chinese Embassy, dozens of policemen searched the Falun Gong practitioners' bags, dragged them away and snatched their banners. After the practitioners told the policemen about the persecution and the Chinese Embassy's role in it, some policemen said that they didn't harass them out of their own initiative. They said that it was the Chinese Embassy who asked them to do it.
Falun Gong practitioners in Houston told the Thai official about the "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party," gave him a some introductory materials about Falun Gong, and told him about the evil nature of the CCP. The official gained a basic understanding about Falun Gong and the persecution. He said he would fax the letter to his government and give the other materials to the Thai Consul.
Falun Gong practitioners also gave the receptionist of the Thai Consulate some truth-clarification materials before they left.
What is Falun Gong? Falun Gong is a a way of practice of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Since its introduction in China in May, 1992, these principles have won people's heart and improved their morality. Both the nation and the people have benefited greatly from it. More than 100 million people in more than seventy countries are practicing Falun Gong.
The chief perpetrator and former head of the CCP, Jiang Zemin, launched the persecution of Falun Gong out of jealousy on July 20, 1999. At least 2,790 practitioners have died from the persecution in the past six years. Executing the CCP's orders, police in China arbitrarily use tortures on Falun Gong practitioners without restraint, which has caused countless appalling tragedies around the nation. The recent rape of women Falun Gong practitioners by policeman is only a tiny part of the persecution. In addition, the CCP has extended the persecution overseas. The incidents in Iceland and Thailand are examples.
The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) announced that they will file investigation cases against the major responsible parties and individuals, further verify their crimes, and report their findings and evidence to the international courts, human rights organizations, and foreign governments. The WOIPFG will also file lawsuits against these individuals and expose their crimes. According to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Code, Item 212(a)(2)(G) stipulates that foreign government officials involved in violating freedom of religion during the last two years are not allowed to enter the United States. This statute extends to their family members and dependents as well. The WOIPFG will deliver the perpetrators' crime records to customs and immigration departments of various countries.
The incident of the Thai police violating Falun Gong practitioners' human right was inglorious. Falun Gong practitioners hope that the Thai government won't associate itself with the CCP, which has been constructed on lies and atrocities.
On December 10, 2005, International Human Rights Day, United Kingdom Falun Gong practitioners participated in a rally outside the Chinese Embassy in London to protest the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) unceasing persecution of Chinese people's human rights.
A number of VIPs attended the rally to express their support and give speeches, including Dr. Charles Tannock MEP, the vice president of the human rights subcommittee of the European Parliament and the spokesman for the foreign affairs of the UK Conservative Party; John Grogan MP; Lord Thurlow, a former senior UK diplomat; English playwright Mrs. Tinch Minter. A Falun Gong practitioner who experienced the persecution in China also gave a speech. Vice president of the Greater London Parliament Mr. Brian Coleman was not available to attend the rally in person, but sent his speech and asked a practitioner to deliver the speech for him.
 Dr. Charles Tannock MEP |
 John Grogan MP |
 English playwright Mrs. Tinch Minter |
The speakers unanimously condemned the terrible human rights situation in China. They recognized that the fundamental factor undermining the development of human rights in China is the evil CCP dictatorship. Lord Thurlow stated in his speech, "The United Nations itself has recently issued a report of its sub-commission on human rights, that emphasizes the gross violations that amount to terrorism by the Chinese Communist Government against its own people. The Special Rapporteur on torture problems calls it 'terrorism from above.' The main focus in China is the violent assault on practitioners of Falun Gong for the last six years, assessed at 100 million in number in 1999. The UN Working Group on contemporary forms of slavery flatly denies CCP attempts to justify its persecution by accusing Falun Gong. On the contrary, the Working Group states that the only deaths have been at the hands of the Chinese authorities themselves - nearly 3,000 deaths have been verified in detail and over 4,400 cases of torture. This is only the tip of a concealed iceberg of a vastly greater death roll and daily torture on a wide scale in the slave labor camps."
Lord Thurlow also pointed out, "Recently there has been an addition to the extensive list of officially encouraged torture methods in the form of deliberately organized rape." This appalling case of the rape of two women Falun Gong practitioners happened on November 25, 2005 while the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture was in China for investigations Police from Dongchengfang Town Police Station, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, took into custody two Falun Gong practitioners, Ms. Liu Jizhi (51 years old) and Ms. Han Yuzhi (42 years old). At Dongchengfang Town Police Station, a policeman named He Xuejian raped Ms. Liu Jizhi and Ms. Han Yuzhi during so-called "official interrogation" in front of another policeman. This event is definitely not an isolated case. The CCP supports and incites officials to commit such crimes, even rewarding them. Under the officially mandated persecution of Falun Gong, cases of rape and sexual abuse repeatedly occur.
 Falun Gong practitioners protest the persecution outside the Chinese Embassy |
Dr. Charles Tannock MEP, the vice president of the human rights subcommittee of the European Parliament, was interviewed by NTDTV after his speech. Dr. Tannock indicated in the interview that, "China at present has stronger and stronger economic and political links with the European Union. I think we should further concern ourselves about the human rights condition in China. Chinese people deserve to have the same rights as people anywhere else in the world have, the fundamental human rights, the right of freedom of speech, the right of freedom of assembly, the right of freedom of religion. Hopefully sooner rather than later, they have the right of choosing a government themselves rather than to have to live under the one party of communist dictatorship."
Regarding the withdrawals from the CCP of more than 6 million Chinese people, Dr. Tannock said, "The Chinese Communist Party is just a vehicle for maintaining power for a few people. I was told the promise the Chinese Communist Party had made that by 2007 and 2008 there will be full democracy in Hong Kong with an elected governor, but now Beijing is trying to take that right away from the Hong Kong people. I am hopeful that sooner or later the Chinese communist party regime will give way to democracy, and China will have a government that respects the fundamental human rights of all people."
Mr. John Grogan, the UK Labor Party MP for Selby, also accepted an interview. He said, "Today is International Human Rights Day. China has a great historical culture, but many people in the British Parliament are worried about the human rights record of China. We have just seen the report from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, stating that torture is still widespread in China. I think that it is the duty for everyone in Britain, whether the MPs or businessmen, to raise this issue of human rights in China. I think it is a very important phenomenon that over 6 million Chinese people are withdrawing from the CCP. This indicates that many Chinese people hope to seek other political organizations outside the Chinese Communist Party to represent their views. People in western countries are already familiar with many parties' coexistence in a democratic society. I would like to see that day come soon in China."
 Mourning practitioners persecuted to death in Mainland China |
After the rally, people marched from the Chinese Embassy to Chinatown, to expose the CCP's persecution of human rights and to publicize the global trend of people quitting the CCP. Practitioners held banners reading, "Falun Dafa is good," "The world needs Truthfulness Compassion and Forbearance," "Stop the unceasing 6-year long persecution of Falun Gong," and "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Zhou Yongkang, and Liu Jing to justice." Other banners exposed the CCP's crimes of genocide against Falun Gong practitioners.
Christmas shoppers crowded London's streets. As the march passed by, many people stopped to watch and view our banners, then accepted or asked for leaflets. Going through Chinatown, most of the Chinese people were willing to take our flyers, and some staff members of Chinese shops came out to watch. After viewing several banners, an elderly Chinese man smiled and said, "Very good, very good."
On December 9, 2005, on the eve of International Human Rights Day, Falun Gong practitioners in Portugal participated in a rally held at Rossio Square in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, to expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) violence and to support 6 million people quitting the CCP. The rally caught the attention of the Portuguese people. After reading the information on the display boards, people signed the petition in support of the Chinese people quitting the CCP.
 Right before International Human Rights Day, Dafa practitioners staged a rally on Rossio Square to expose the CCP's violence and to support 6 million people quitting the CCP |
People are shocked at the CCP's violence, exposed by the photo exhibition
Located at the farthest west of Europe, Portugal used to be the most powerful empire on the seas, in possession of numerous overseas colonies. Since Antonio Salazar came to power as the chancellor in 1932, Portugal had practiced fascism. Under fascist rule, numerous dissidents were tragically persecuted or tortured to death. Nowadays, Portugal is a democratic country where people enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of belief. But people still have a vivid memory of the terrible dictatorship.
At 11:00 a.m., many banners were displayed on Rossio Square, reading, "Support 6,000,000 People Quitting the CPP," "The CCP Has Tortured and Killed 80,000,000 Chinese," "The Nine Commentaries Dissolves the CCP," and "No CCP and A New China." On one of the banners were printed photos of the CCP's criminal acts. These banners and photos drew the attention of tourists and citizens in Lisbon. Passers-by stopped to read the information and inquired about the persecution happening in China, particularly the brutal persecution against the Falun Gong practitioners that has lasted for over six years.
People signing the petition in support of the Chinese
people quitting the CCP
After reading the leaflet, a Portuguese sailor said, "My ship once had stayed in Shanghai for three months. I witnessed the scenes in which the Chinese police beat and scolded their citizens on the streets without following any legal procedures." After reading the information on the display boards, the sailor did not leave until the end of the activity. He offered to aid the practitioners in distributing the leaflets to the passers-by and informing people of the CCP's brutal atrocities against its own citizens.
A man from China asked for a leaflet and had a chat with the practitioners. He said, "I spotted your bustling activity on the square, with so many banners. I purposefully came here to take a look." Upon seeing the photos exposing the CCP's criminal behaviors and learning that over 6 million people have resigned from the CCP, he said, "The news is really inspiring."
From chatting with him, the practitioners learned that he had taken the initiative to quit the CCP four years ago because he disagreed with the CCP's wrongdoing. He continued, "I find it really hard to tolerate their (the CCP's) launching political movements all the time to persecute the citizens for no reason. The banner reads that 80,000,000 Chinese people have been persecuted to death. Though I do not know the exact number, I believe this is true. And I believe the number of the deaths is actually far greater. Each political movement would inevitably lead to numerous deaths. My mother has been sent to brainwashing centers several times only because of practicing Falun Gong. They deprived her of public office and confiscated her apartment, in their attempt to force her to renounce her belief. Thanks for standing up against the CCP's criminal behaviors."
Two Portuguese policemen were on duty on the square. At first they remained indifferent and refused to accept the practitioners' leaflets, saying that they could not accept any leaflets while on duty. Afterwards, they came towards the practitioners to ask for the leaflets because they were curious as to why so many passers-by were expressing intense concern over the rally and then signing the petition after seeing the photos and reading the leaflets. A look of solemnity appeared on the faces of the two police officers, when they came to realize that kind people are being persecuted, tortured and illegally imprisoned by the Communist regime. One of the police officers said, "We have two leaflets, but our colleagues don't have any. Please give us more. I will bring them to my colleagues in the hope that they can have a better understanding of the situation in China."
At 3:00 p.m., the rally came to an end. Many people were still reading the Nine Commentaries, Dafa newspapers and the leaflets..
