(Clearwisdom.net) On March 4, 2004, the student body, Associated Students, at San Jose State University passed a resolution to condemn the oppression of Falun Gong in China. The resolution pointed out that there has been daily slander and defamation from the Chinese state media, which enjoys a monopoly on newspapers, television, radio and Web sites; Chinese delegates in the United States are pressuring local elected officials to refuse or withdraw support of Falun Gong; and the Jiang Regime has additionally been using illicit means to harass, intimidate and physically assault Falun Gong practitioners in the United States. The resolution called on local and federal elected officials and university student bodies in California to understand that it is a relevant issue to all California students, with an accompanying recommendation that this resolution also be adopted as to form a joint action.
Associated Students
SJSU Board of Directors
Resolution
Regarding the oppression of spiritual practice of Falun Gong and Christianity by the Jiang Zemin Regime in the People's Republic of China
Whereas at numerous colleges and universities in California and across the United States, the student body includes Falun Gong practitioners, and student organizations include Falun Gong Associations;
Whereas Falun Gong is a peaceful self-cultivation practice deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, with tens of millions of practitioners in over 60 countries;
Whereas Falun Gong practitioners aspire to have inner peace and physical health through qigong exercise, meditation, and adherence to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance;
Whereas Falun Gong is non-religious, completely voluntary, and free of charge;
Whereas the Constitution of the People's Republic of China provides to the citizens of that country freedom of speech, assembly, association, and belief;
Whereas on July 20, 1999, former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin, in spite of much opposition from within the Chinese government, officially banned the practice of Falun Gong and initiated a brutal campaign of brainwashing, torture and murder, which continues today;
Whereas former communist party leader, Jiang Zemin threaten the entire China with a genocide of conscience, exercised power over all parts of society to force the persecution on the government and the people and tried to exercise the genocide of conscience overseas.
Whereas demonstrations by Falun Gong practitioners in the People's Republic of China and the United States have always been peaceful, meditative sessions;
Whereas the 2003 US Department of State Annual Human Rights report that, police often used excessive force when detaining peaceful Falun Gong protesters, including some who were elderly or who were accompanied by small children;
Whereas Falun Gong practitioners in China have suffered a horrific persecution in which tens of thousands of people have been tortured while confined to labor camps, prisons, and mental hospitals, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to attend brainwashing classes;
Whereas the number of verified deaths from torture has reached 914 as of March 21, 2004;
Whereas there has been daily slander and defamation from the Chinese state media, which enjoys a monopoly on newspapers, television, radio and the Internet;
Whereas Canada Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued the verdict on February 3, 2004 and found Pan Xinchun, Deputy Chinese Consul General in Toronto, guilty of libel. Chinese diplomats acted outside their diplomatic function to spread hatred. Canadian court has determined that calling Falun Gong practitioners 'evil cult' members is libelous and illegal.
Whereas Chinese delegates in the United States are pressuring local elected officials to refuse or withdraw support of Falun Gong;
Whereas the Jiang Zemin Regime has additionally been using illicit means to harass, intimidate and physically assault Falun Gong practitioners in the United States;
Whereas Dr. Charles Lee, a United States citizen and Falun Gong practitioner, has reportedly been mentally and physically tortured since being detained by Chinese authorities on January 22, 2003;
Whereas on February 2002, a group of about 60 practitioners of Falun Gong from North America, South America, and Europe were forcefully rounded up in Tiananmen Square as they peacefully appeal for Falun Gong;
Whereas San Jose State University Graduate, U.S. Citizen, Chunquan Lee went to Tiananmen Square, Beijing to peacefully appeal for Falun Gong. There Chunquan was brutally beaten by 5 Chinese policemen and detained for 24 hours. She was not allowed to contact the U.S. Embassy and was forcefully expelled back to the U.S.;
Whereas San Jose State University Alumni, Steve Ispas, UCLA Student, David Kute, Bay Area software engineer Eugen Carai, as well as many others have been arrested, beaten and detained simply for the intention of having a peaceful appeal in Tiananmen Square in Feb. 2002;
Whereas African American musician Sterling Campbell (David Bowie's drummer) also went to Tiananmen Square to peacefully appeal for Falun Gong. There Mr. Campbell was beaten, detained and sent back to the U.S. by Chinese policemen;
Whereas in February 2002, Chengdu University Associate Professor Zhang Chuansheng died in prison after being arrested for his involvement with Falun Gong. Prison authorities claimed he died of a heart attack, but witnesses who saw his body claimed he had been severely beaten;
Whereas the 2003 US Department of State Annual Human Rights reported that Chinas human rights violations have also extended to religious practices such as Christianity, Catholicism, Protestant and others within China;
Whereas millions of Christians, Catholics, and Protestants in China continue to live and worship in fear and uncertainty, despite the communist government's denials that persecution is taking place;
Whereas Christians who are not affiliated with a state-sanctioned church institution face harassment, fines, job discrimination, imprisonment, torture, and sometimes death. Therefore be it
Resolved,
that the A.S. Board of Directors condemns the persecution and human rights violations of Falun Gong in Mainland China and abroad. Therefore be it
Resolved,
that the A.S. Board of Directors condemns the persecution of Christians, Catholics, Protestants and other religions in Mainland China, and abroad. Therefore be it
Resolved,
that it is the sense of the Associated Students of San Jose State University that:
- Copies of this resolution should be sent to
- U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer;
- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell;
- U.S. Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt; and
- President George W. Bush;
- Copies of this resolution will be sent to the student governments within the UC and CSU systems, with the understanding that it is a relevant issue to all California students, and an accompanying recommendation that this resolution also be adopted as to form a joint action.
- Copies of this resolution be sent to San Jose State University Academic Senate in order to raise awareness about aforementioned human rights violations.
