Senior Staff Assistant to Congressman Ferguson Speaks at the Mid-Autumn Festival Dinner Party with New Jersey Practitioners

Thank you for inviting me to share this special mid-autumn celebration (traditional Chinese Holiday, similar to our Thanksgiving). As we speak, teams from the U.S. and China are preparing to take up a dialogue on human rights in talks that are set to begin October 9. Secretary of State Colin Powell met with senior Chinese leaders in Beijing in July and began the process. I hope, as you all do, that this meeting, which is in preparation for President George Bush's trip to China later this month, is the beginning of the end of China's harsh human rights policies. America has been trying to hold bilateral human rights dialogue with the Chinese since 1998, and is anxious to begin the process. China views our opinions of their human rights record as interference in their internal affairs, but we believe, as a democratic nation, it is our duty to protect the basic rights of people all over the world.

It is deeply disturbing that at this point of the world's development, with the raised consciousness and sensitivity of the entire world to the plight of members of other nations who do not enjoy freedom or have their basic needs, such as food and shelter, met, that a government such as China's would still forbid any person or organization from practicing free speech and religion and would go so far as to systematically eliminate its followers--particularly a people who are by nature and by practice peaceful and non-violent.

Since its inception in 1992 in North China, under the direction of Mr. Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong has never been a threat to any government. It is non-political. This tranquil way of improving health for both mind and body through exercise and meditation can never be construed as anything but peaceful. Yet, China has outlawed it and by spreading propaganda through their state controlled media, has attempted to breed hatred and discrimination toward Falun Gong members.

The peaceful protest of April 25 (1999) should have demonstrated to the Chinese government that Falun Gong merely wanted recognition and did not pose a danger to their agenda. Instead, you all know the reaction of the Chinese Government. It began a reign of terror over Falun Gong. In the last two years, it has rounded up many practitioners and held them in prisons, imposing harsh sentences on alleged organizers, such as Zhang Hongli who was jailed for 13 years on charges organizing the manufacture of banners and printing Falun Gong leaflets--a freedom American citizens take for granted. It has seized and destroyed tapes and texts and issued a warrant for the arrest of Li Hongzhi. Many followers have been sent to labor camps without trial. A CNN report from August of this year claims as many as 50,000 followers have been jailed, sent to labor camps or mental institutions.

It is hard for us to understand why the Chinese government is so terrified of Falun Gong except that they fear anything that requires or encourages allegiance outside of itself. By virtue of the large numbers of followers, Falun Gong is, therefore, a danger to China's tight grasp on its own power. The Chinese government has not learned what the Western world knows, that people can have allegiance to a spiritual way of life and to a government at the same time. We in America, who are free to practice our beliefs openly, defend our government and our way of life with a passion because that government protects these freedoms. The Chinese Politburo has not learned that from us. They have not realized that those who are persecuted will never have allegiance to their persecutors.

Two weeks ago, our country suffered a most horrible and inhuman attack against its citizens. Almost 7,000 Americans perished at the hands of 16 terrorists. Until that day, we did not experience the kind of persecution that others in the world live with every day of their lives. We sympathized with those people and we did our best to help them overcome, but we did not come face to face with that kind of oppression as we did on September 11, 2001. We know that we must take measures to protect ourselves from a further attack and we know that we must in some way punish those who are responsible. This kind of attack on a free and innocent people cannot be tolerated. In the same light of thinking, government sanctioned terrorism cannot be tolerated. No people should ever be forced to flee their country and leave their families for spiritual freedom. America's first settlers were people fleeing Europe for spiritual freedom and we have never wavered from our strong commitment that all persons of the world should share in that freedom.

Congressman Mike Ferguson has made serious commitments to rid the world of human rights violations. He has signed letters and resolutions, cosponsored legislation and made speeches from the floor of the House condemning these violations. Moreover, he continues to lobby the Administration and State Department, making it very clear that he is deeply concerned with the activities of China toward Falun Gong practitioners. Most recently he has signed on to a letter urging President Bush, on his coming trip to China, to request the release of Dr. Chun Yan Teng and to express our nation's concern over the Chinese government's treatment of Falun Gong. I have brought copies of two resolutions that address the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and copies of the letter to President Bush. The Congressman presented one resolution at press conference in Trenton. Please be assured he is deeply concerned with the plight of Falun Gong members in China and that he will continue to work to ensure that these issues are addressed during President Bush's visit and to let the persecutors know that we will not let the efforts of those who suffered be in vain. Thank you for having me.