Speech by Nina Shea Representing Freedom House at Washington DC July 23 Rally

July 23, 2002

[Editor's note: The persecution of Falun Gong in China is the direct result of Jiang and his small group of henchmen's unfounded paranoia and blatant disregard for human rights. Their wishes do not represent the Chinese people as a whole, nor do they represent the Chinese government. In fact, many high-level government officials and Chinese citizens oppose the persecution of Falun Gong.]

Freedom House, the center for religious freedom, is proud to stand in solidarity with Falun Gong today. Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion are called the first freedom, because they are foundational. All other freedoms flow from it. We therefore are particularly shocked and outraged by what China [Jiang's regime] is doing to Falun Gong. China [Jiang's regime] began its severe persecution three years ago and continues it unabated today. Hundred thousand some prisoners, hundreds killed, thousands in psychiatric institutes. In documents from the top levels of the Chinese government that were leaked to the West this past winter, we saw the declaration that Falun Gong is [Jiang's regime]'s number one public enemy. This is outrageous and must stop. The State Department of the United States government has determined that China is a country of particular concern. That means, under the legal standards, that China has been found to be persecuting in a way that is systematic, on-going, and egregious. That is, persecuting people for their thoughts, beliefs, and religions. I have today a letter from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, of which I am a member, and I just like to read, in the interest of time, part of it.

"Dear Dr. Shen Ye, the Chinese government's crackdown on freedom of religion and beliefs target several groups, including Evangelical Christians, Roman Catholics, Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims, and Falun Gong, which the government has labeled 'an evil cult.' It has resulted in torture, in scores of deaths at the hands of police and security officials as well as surveillance, detention, imprisonment, and other abuses in confinement. As part of its violent repression of the Falun Gong, the government has pressured individuals to condemn Falun Gong adherence and renounce that group's beliefs. The U.S. government should continue strengthening its efforts to oppose these and other abusive practices that constitute the Chinese government's crackdown on religious and spiritual believers."

I thank you and wish you well.