FDI: Press Statement Concerning Recent Remarks Made by Thailand Officials during APEC Preparations

NEWS -- Oct. 8, 2003 Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

NEW YORK (FDI) -- According to recent media reports, Thailand government officials have voiced concern about the presence of Falun Gong practitioners in Thailand during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

It is clear that former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin is behind such announcements, as they are consistent with his previous attempts to manipulate government officials in other countries to act adversely, and even illegally, toward Falun Gong.

In order to squelch exposure of their persecution of Falun Gong, Jiang and the "6-10 Office" he created have acted behind the scenes in advance of previous international summits involving the Chinese government.

At the New Zealand APEC meetings in 1999, the Associated Press reported how Jiang personally gave then-U.S. President, Bill Clinton, a book defaming Falun Gong, hoping to convince President Clinton to adopt a "correct" attitude towards Falun Gong. "The book's 150 pages in English is a relentless barrage of propaganda from China's entirely state-run media," reported AP.

In case after documented case in multiple countries over the past four years, government officials have reported receiving visits, phone calls, and letters from Chinese agents asking them to rescind their support of Falun Gong and to deny Falun Gong practitioners the right to assemble. (special report) Jiang's agents base their demands on misinformation, backed by threats of political or economic repercussions if the local government fails to comply.

Nevertheless, during these four years of persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have held hundreds of peaceful assemblies in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and Central America. In almost all cases, the practitioners' right to appeal was upheld since the people and governments have understood the situation in China: Falun Gong practitioners are good people who are suffering ruthless and unjust persecution.

In addition to Falun Gong's annual presence at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Falun Gong's peaceful gatherings have also been warmly received at the 1999 APEC summit in New Zealand, the 2002 World Economic Forum in New York City, and the 2002 APEC summit in Mexico, among others. (news)

During the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, in an atmosphere of heightened security, Falun Gong was one of only two groups--out of hundreds that applied--to be granted permission to demonstrate. (news)

The public appeals have all followed a familiar pattern: meditation, quietly holding banners, orderly and dignified parades, and handing out factual leaflets. No violence, no loud noise, and no destruction or public disturbance of any kind have ever been associated with Falun Gong.

The Falun Dafa Information Center is not aware of plans by practitioners to hold appeals in Thailand, contrary to figures of "200-300" people mentioned by Thai officials, and so we question from where they received this information. Yet, we remind authorities that Falun Gong practitioners, like all peaceful, law-abiding people, have the right to assemble in Thailand, as granted by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Thai Constitution. Section 44 of the 1997 Constitution says, "A person shall enjoy the liberty to assemble peacefully and without arms."

As a matter of principle, it is wrong to revoke the rights of anyone to peacefully assemble, and as a matter of experience, it is unjustified to single out Falun Gong as a potential problem, since Falun Gong practitioners have an unbroken track record of peaceful and dignified public assemblies for more than four years.

Falun Gong practitioners would like to communicate more with Thai officials so that they understand this, and Falun Gong's true situation in China, more deeply. We feel confident that they will support human rights when they fully know the facts.

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NEWS -- Oct. 8, 2003

Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's then-Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it. To that end, Jiang established the "6-10 Office," a Gestapo-like agency spanning from the Central Government to the local governments. The United States Congress has described the "6-10 Office" as an agency charged with "overseeing the persecution of Falun Gong members through organized brainwashing, torture, and murder." (news)

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 793 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. In October 2001, however, Government officials inside China reported that the actual death toll was well over 1,600. Expert sources now estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER -- Gail Rachlin 917-501-4441, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, or Christina Chai 917-386-5068. Email: [e-mail], Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/