(Clearwisdom.net) A support organization and an attorney group have been established in Japan. They aim to help Falun Gong practitioners persecuted by the Chinese government who apply for political asylum in Japan. The support organization invited Zhang Cuiying, a painter and a Falun Gong practitioner from Australia who was persecuted by the Chinese government for eight months [when she went back to China to appeal for Falun Gong]. One of the initiators of the "Support Organization for Falun Gong Practitioners Applying for Asylum" is Japanese House Representative Makino Seisyu. He delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of Zhang Cuiying's painting exhibit on November 29, 2001, saying that the Chinese government's persecution and human rights encroachment of Falun Gong practitioners cannot be tolerated by humanity. Everyone should enjoy freedom of belief, freedom of association, the right to participate in any lawful activities and to choose any career. These rights are all natural in a democratic country. Representative Makino said he will do his best to stop the Chinese government's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners' human rights, and at the same time he will urge the Japanese government to pay more attention to and form better policies regarding the issue of refugees. Representative Makino promised that he and his friends will call on many more government representatives to help them understand the persecution and invite them to join the group of supporters of Falun Gong. He will work hard in order to gain strong support.