Falun Dafa Association of NSW, Australia Writes to the Prime Minister of Japan

28 September 2002

The Prime Minister of Japan The Honorable Junichiro Koizumi

Dear Prime Minister Koizumi

I write on behalf of Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners in New South Wales, Australia.

We respectfully ask for your consideration to the plight of Yoko Kaneko, resident of Japan and wife of Atusi Kaneko of Niigata County as she is now suffering in a labor camp in China because of her belief in the principles of Falun Dafa - Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.

At your October meetings in China could you please help to assist in the safe return of Yoko Kaneko to her husband in Japan. She arrived in Beijing on May 23 2002 and the next day went out with two other Japanese practitioners to distribute leaflets asking for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. They were illegally detained by the police, forcibly searched, photographed and violently interrogated according to the two Japanese practitioners who were forcibly sent back to Japan on May 25.

As you may know, the persecution of Falun Gong has been going on for over three years. Please consider the many peaceful people like Yoko who have tried to let the truth be known and have suffered terribly at the hands of Jiang Zemin's regime. Daughters have been raped by prisoners or guards; children murdered by the local Authorities; elderly parents thrown into labor camps; loved ones force fed brutally even to death; sisters and brothers forced to leave their homes and wander around without income; nephews and nieces have lost their parents.

Yet there are many kind hearted voices in Japan calling for justice. A parade to rescue Yoko Kaneko was organized on July 6 2002 in Niigata County where a large number of people took part including her husband Atusi Kaneko and Abe Ayumi, her 31-year-old cousin. Also two Members of the House of Representatives of Japan, the Hon Nishimula Shingo and the Hon Yama Mula have endorsed a letter on 29 June 2002 in support of her release.

As the esteemed leader of Japan, dear Honorable Prime Minister, we trust in your convictions of honor, dignity and justice. We trust in the traditional wisdom and values of Confucius (Kung-tzu) who speaks of 'faith in their leaders' and Mencius (Meng-tzu) who speaks of 'benevolence and justice before benefit and profit' - and we trust in the spirit of the '100 sacks of rice'- and the willingness to endure pain today for a better tomorrow.

Yoko Kaneko, like many peaceful Falun Gong practitioners in China has endured to let more people know the truth about Falun Dafa for a better tomorrow. She does not deserve to be beaten and tortured because she wishes to help the Chinese people know the value of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

Please hear this message from our hearts and do whatever you can to ensure her safe return to Japan. In the knowledge that benevolence and righteousness bring true rewards we wish a bright future for you and Japan.

Respectfully yours

Chairman of the Falun Dafa Association of NSW, Australia