Germany: Interview with a Member of the European Branch of WOIPFG

Since July 1999, for more than four years, Jiang Zemin and his accomplices have engaged in the persecution of Falun Gong. Since last March, the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) established a European branch in Ulm, Germany. The following is an interview with the person in charge, Martin Klitzler.

Reporter: "Mr. Klitzler, Could you talk about the European branch of WOIPFG?"

K: "Yes, I would like to explain why the European branch of WOIPFG was set up in Germany. This issue may help people to better understand the nature of this organization.

"We all know that Germany committed unthinkable crimes of genocide more than a half century ago. German people, even those of my generation who have not personally experienced the genocide, have not forgotten these incidents. The well-known trial of war crimes in the wake of World War II however took place in Nuremberg, Germany. Today, the City Government of Nuremberg has the only human rights office established by the state. One of its purposes is to remind people of the tragedy that took place in Germany and that the pursuit of war criminals from World War II still is going on. I think that the German people have a special obligation to oppose, and remind people of, any crimes incorporating genocide. The reason for this is that no matter where it takes place, it is antagonistic to universal human values and peace that all human beings should abide by, as well as being harmful to the entire human race.

"Right now, genocide is taking place in China--Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Gong. One of the purposes of establishing the European branch of the WOIPFG in Germany is to let people know that history will not be forgotten and to urge people to stop history from repeating itself."

Reporter: "Someone once said that the Jewish people, who were murdered by the Nazis, far outnumber Falun Gong practitioners who have been murdered and therefore the persecution of Falun Gong does not count as genocide. What is your view on this?"

K: "A person who says this does not understand the nature of the persecution against Falun Gong. In terms of numbers posted on Falun Gong website's, nearly 800 Falun Gong practitioners have died as a result of the persecution, at least 6,000 people have been sentenced [to jail], more than one hundred thousand people have been sentenced to labor camps, thousands have been placed into mental institutions and forced to take medication that destroys the central nervous system. Indeed, in terms of the number of deaths, the persecution of Falun Gong is by no way comparable to that of the Jewish people. However, I would like to take this opportunity to make five points about genocide.

"Firstly, Hitler took twelve years to reach that scale of persecution. Yet, the persecution of Falun Gong began only four years ago and it has spread to many countries worldwide.

"Secondly, more than half a century ago, people in Germany and other countries could not come across any information about the persecution of the Jewish people. As a result, Hitler could implement his plan without obstruction. However, not long after the persecution of Falun Gong, information spread out of China. Since 1999, the decisions and pleas of the international community have put a great deal of pressure on Jiang Zemin's government. In this globalized world, China cannot do anything except consider the international communities reaction. Jiang Zemin and his accomplices must have some misgivings.

"Thirdly, during World War II, Hitler did not force the Jewish people to give up their belief but sent them directly to the gas chamber. Jiang Zemin however, gave the order to use inhumane torture and measures to destroy one's spirit in order to press Falun Gong practitioners to write testimonies to give up their beliefs. According to the United Nations' definition of genocide, genocide applies not only to the elimination of the physical body, but also to the severe physical and spiritual damage of a specific group. This applies to [Jiang Zemin's] persecution of Falun Gong.

"Fourthly, in terms of the method of persecution, Jiang Zemin has used the same method as Hitler. That is, to generate extensive rumors, or to exert enormous pressure on victims. Jiang Zemin has also spread rumors worldwide to mislead the international society.

"And finally, Hitler established the Gestapo. Jiang Zemin established the '610 Office'. Both were/are above the law. Hitler used them to pave the way for the murder of Jewish people, while Jiang Zemin forced people to give up their beliefs. However, the two share the same purpose, which is to eliminate a specific group."

Reporter: "Speaking of the '610 Office', when Luo Gan visited four European countries in early September, Falun Gong practitioners filed lawsuits in those four countries, accusing Luo Gan of committing the crimes of torture and genocide. In your view, what are the prospects of these lawsuits?"

K: "At present, in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, Falun Gong practitioners have filed or are preparing to file lawsuits against Chinese officials responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong. Judging from our information, a strong front has been formed, and a US court has made some decisions that are favorable to Falun Gong. For example, charges against the following persons, due to persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, have been sustained: Zhao Zhifei, deputy director of Hubei provincial public security, Beijing municipal party secretary Liu Qi, and Liaoning's deputy governor Xia Deren. This shows that the international community has begun to pay more and more attention to crimes against humanity that defy basic human rights and liberty.

"Through the lawsuit against Luo Gan, at the very least the leaders and citizens of those four countries have learned what kind of person he is. We have also extensively unveiled the secret nature of the '610 Office' in Europe for the first time."

Reporter: "What is your personal view of the significance of the lawsuits against Chinese officials?"

K: "From the standpoint of the WOIPFG, the lawsuits have brought condemnation of the persecution from a moral level to a legal level. This is exactly the purpose of this organization. Just like World War II war criminals, even decades after their crimes, they still have to face trial in court if apprehended. This is international justice. We don't think that we have to wait that long. This determination to legally deal with all of these crimes will shock the perpetrators. It would be best if we could stop their actions and let people in China as well as in other countries know about the persecution of Falun Gong by Jiang and his accomplices that are serious criminal acts."