Place Denfert-Rochereau, located in the 14th district of Southern Paris, is famous for its large lion sculpture expressing France's courage and determination. It is also a busy traffic intersection leading to the Orly Airport. On August 27, 2005, French Falun Gong practitioners came here as part of a nationwide tour to promote Falun Gong.
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Call for an end to persecution in front of Place Denfert-Rochereau
The banner calling for a stop to the persecution of Falun Gong in China attracted much attention. Some people, after learning the facts of the persecution, said angrily, "I know there are many people in Paris who practice Falun Gong. I consider it a very good cultivation way. Everyone should stand up to stop this persecution." Others were surprised: "I couldn't believe that in our time, there are still such terrible things happening. It is unpardonable!" There was one person who planned to visit China. When he learned of the atrocities being committed in China against Falun Gong practitioners, he decided not to go to China. He wanted to display "Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong in China" posters on his car during his European tour so that the message could be seen by everyone.
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Practitioners distributed leaflets revealing the facts about Falun Gong, demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises, explained to people about the ongoing brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China and collected signatures calling for the immediate end to the persecution and that the responsible persons be brought to justice. Although there were not many practitioners at the activity, everything went on smoothly and effectively. Many passers-by expressed their condemnation of the persecution and their sincere support for Falun Gong practitioners. People from different regions of France Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Creteil, Angers, Boulogne and Antony signed the petition condemning the persecution. Foreign tourists from Britain, Belgium and India also signed the petition after getting information in their own language.
With the persistent efforts by practitioners to reveal the truth, more and more people started to raise their concern about this persecution and called for the immediate end to this brutal violation of human rights. The evil is completely losing its foothold. What awaits them is the final judgment of the law.
On August 14th, 2005, several Falun Gong practitioners from Northern Europe and Latvia gathered at the busiest business center in Helsinki to let people know about Falun Gong and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. They demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises and held an anti-torture exhibition. Tourists from various countries signed the petition one after another to support Falun Gong practitioners and condemn the persecution.
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It was drizzling all day long in the capital of Finland, while the 2005 IAAF World Championships were coming to a close. Among the crowds around the anti-torture exhibition were Finnish delegates from various countries who came to participate in the Championships, as well as many tourists. From their shocked countenances, angry eyes, the tears of compassion and the kind act of signing the petition, we could tell that people were greatly moved from the bottoms of their hearts. The peaceful demonstration of Falun Gong exercises made a stark contrast to the exhibition of brutal torture methods.
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It was strenuous work to act as a victim of torture or a wicked police officer. In particular, it was very difficult for the three practitioners who enacted the victims of torture: tied to a cage for long periods of time, huddled inside the iron cage and reenacting the role of a burn victim. To impress people who came to the exhibition, those practitioners persevered in their roles for nearly three hours without any rest.
The most common questions asked by the shocked visitors were, "Is it true? Why does this kind of thing still happen today? How can I help?"
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Time and again, with great compassion, Dafa practitioners answered the queries raised by people and explained the details about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. They also exposed the anti-human nature of the Chinese Communist Party. Their words aroused people's sense of justice and conscience. These activities deeply moved so many people because the practitioners devoted a lot time and energy to the event and because of the great compassion and tolerance they gained through cultivating Falun Gong.
Amnesty International initiated a call to write or send faxes to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and other officials, to request bringing to justice the killers of Ms. Gao Rongrong, a Falun Gong practitioner who was tortured to death after her face was terribly disfigured by being shocked with electric batons while in police custody. The brutal persecution of Ms. Gao caught the attention of kind-hearted people across the world.
 Ms. Gao Rongrong |
 Ms. Gao Rongrong was tortured to death after being disfigured by more than seven hours of torture with electric batons while in police custody |
The following are excerpts from Amnesty International's information about Gao Rongrong and the call for letters of appeal:
Gao Rongrong, a Falun Gong practitioner from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, reportedly died in custody on 16 June 2005 at the China Medical University Hospital. Gao was initially sent to Longshan Labor Camp in Shenyang on 8 July 2003.
According to reports, on 7 May 2004 Gao Rongrong was subjected to seven hours of torture at the hands of officials. This prolonged torture allegedly involved using electric-shock batons on Gao Rongrong's face and neck and reportedly caused her severe blistering and difficulties with her eyesight.
Gao Rongrong reportedly attempted to escape by jumping through the window of the first-floor room where she was being held, breaking several bones in her foot, leg and pelvis. She was hospitalized for these injuries, and reportedly continued to suffer further physical and psychological abuse in the hospital.
On 5 October 2004, Gao Rongrong was rescued out of the hospital by a group of acquaintances. She was re-apprehended by police on 6 March 2005 along with Feng Gang, Wang Juan (f), Liu Qingming and Sun Shiyou, the people who reportedly helped her to escape.
Gao Rongrong's whereabouts after her recapture where not disclosed until 12 June 2005 when her family was informed that she was being held at Masanjia Hospital. According to Gao's family who visited her at that hospital, she was little more than "skin and bones", had lost consciousness and was hooked up to a respirator. Gao was then transferred to China Medical University Hospital where she died four days later. Her family was reportedly being pressured to cremate her body quickly which would undermine any possibility of full, independent investigation of the cause of her death and any evidence of torture and ill-treatment.
There is no further information available on the current whereabouts or status of Wang Juan or Liu Qingming. Feng Gang has reportedly been detained, and later hospitalized after he underwent a 13 day hunger strike to protest against his detention. Sun Shiyou has reportedly been tortured by the authorities, including by electric shocks to his genitals.
Goal of Action: An official review of the death of Gao Rongrong while in detention, determination of the whereabouts of associates of Gao, and the abolition of Re-education through Labor.
Recommended Actions:
Please send appeals in English or fluent Chinese:
· calling on the authorities to launch a full, independent and impartial investigation into the death of Gao Rongrong including allegations that she was tortured in Longshan "Re-education through Labor" facility and again after her recapture in March 2005, with a view to bringing those found responsible to justice;
· calling on the authorities to launch a full, independent and impartial investigation into allegations that Sun Shiyou has been tortured after his capture in March 2005, with a view to bringing those found responsible to justice;
· calling on the authorities to clarify the current whereabouts and status of Wang Juan and Liu Qingming, and provide immediate guarantees for their safety;
· urging the authorities to ensure Feng Gang, Wang Juan, Liu Qingming and Sun Shiyou have full and regular access to their families, legal representation and medical treatment while they remain in detention;
· urging the authorities to release Feng Gang, Wang Juan, Liu Qingming and Sun Shiyou immediately and unconditionally unless they are charged with a recognizably criminal offence;
· calling on the authorities to abolish "Re-education through Labor" -- a form of arbitrary detention imposed without charge or trial -- ensuring that any alternative measures introduced comply fully with international human rights standards.