Falun Gong Practitioners Urge Members of U.S. Congress to Help Gain Charles Li's Release

Dear Representative,

Please help Charles Li, MD, a US citizen who has been detained in China and is most likely suffering physical and psychological torture now. Charles was detained because he practices Falun Gong, as do millions of people in more than 50 countries. Charles and all Falun Gong practitioners strive to follow the universal principle of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance in their daily lives, but this practice has been banned and irrationally persecuted by the Jiang Zemin regime in China.

At the same time that Charles was detained, Australian citizen Nancy Chen was similarly detained in China by authorities, but was released and allowed to return home after a few days as a result of firm and persistent efforts by the Australian government to obtain her release. Similar past efforts by the governments of Canada, Ireland, and other nations have gained relief for their illegally and unjustly detained residents and citizens who practice Falun Gong.

I respectfully request that you sign and support the attached "dear colleague" letter from Rep. Anna Eshoo of California, who is Charles's representative in Congress. Falun Gong promotes good health and high moral standards. No one, regardless of citizenship, should be detained and tortured for practicing Falun Gong. Please do all in your power to send this message to the Chinese leadership.

Please begin by signing this letter from Rep. Eshoo as soon as possible.

Yours truly,

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Join Me in Calling on China to Release Charles Li

February 5, 2003

Dear Colleague:

Please join me in sending the attached letter to the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Yang Jiechi, regarding the imprisonment of Mr. Charles Li, an American citizen and a Falun Gong practitioner who has been accused of sabotaging television and radio equipment in China.

Mr. Li traveled to China to visit family members and was immediately detained at Guangzhou Airport on January 22nd. The Department of State has confirmed Mr. Li's detention. The Chinese government alleges that Mr. Li broke into cable television networks and transmitted films protesting the Chinese government's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. These claims seem spurious at best. Mr. Li was residing in California at the time the Chinese government purports interference with its cable television network. If convicted Mr. Li could face up to 15 years in prison.

I urge you to join me in conveying our concerns about Mr. Li and requesting his release. To sign on to the attached letter or for more information, contact Arisbe Aguirre in my office by February 13, 2003 at 5-8104.

Sincerely,

Anna G. Eshoo

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February XX, 2003 The Honorable Yang Jiechi, Ambassador Embassy of the People's Republic of China 2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008

Dear Ambassador Jiechi,

We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the arrest and detainment of Mr. Charles Li, a U.S. citizen and resident of Menlo Park, California. Mr. Li was arrested shortly after his arrival at China's Guangzhou Airport on January 22, 2003, on charges of sabotaging television and radio broadcast systems. No evidence of the purported crimes has been provided. Mr. Li has adamantly denied these charges through a U.S. consular representative in Shanghai and maintains he has been arrested solely because of his practice of Falun Gong.

We are extremely concerned about the religious persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China who have been detained and tortured because of their beliefs.

We respectfully and urgently ask that you do everything possible to ensure Mr. Li's safety and effect his immediate release. Sincerely,

Anna G. Eshoo
Member of Congress