(Minghui.org) Malaysian officials arrested and charged two Falun Gong practitioners between July 2011 and February 2012 for providing information at tourist spots about Falun Gong and how it is being persecuted in China. The practitioners are Chinese nationals applying for refugee status in Malaysia. They believe that the authorities' actions are based on not wanting to “affect diplomatic relations” with the CCP regime.
Over the past months, the two practitioners have sought help from organizations worldwide in hopes that the Malaysian authorities would cancel the unreasonable charges against them.
Mr. Wu Ruirong, his wife and daughter in Malaysia
Mr. Wu Ruirong hopes to have a free environment to exercise his right to freedom of belief and freedom of speech
According to Mr. Wu Ruirong, he was arrested by the police on July 13, 2011, while distributing Falun Gong leaflets in Merdeka Square, a tourist spot. Mr. Wu was taken to the police station and detained for 14 days, before he was charged under section 353 of the Penal Code. The police claimed that Mr. Wu obstructed the their public duties and kicked a police officer's leg.
Mr. Wu clarified that the charges are not supported by the facts: that a police officer stepped on his lower leg while investigating the incident. An eyewitness took a photo of the injuries on Mr. Wu's leg. After nearly a year's court hearings and interrogations, the Magistrate's Court ruled in early June this year that Mr. Wu Ruirong breached section 353 of the Penal Code, and sentenced him to a one-year prison term. As Mr. Wu appealed, the court allowed two Malaysians to bail Mr. Wu out with RM10,000 (about US$3,000).
Mr. Wu said, “Since I came to Malaysia, I have been thinking that this is a country that respects human rights and people enjoy freedom of speech. I'm very surprised to have such a thing happen to me. First, I'm a Falun Dafa cultivator. Since I began practicing Falun Gong, I have held myself strictly to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I have never told lies, and neither have I sworn at or beat others.”
“Secondly, I'm a refugee protected by the UN Refugee Agency. I'm only staying in Malaysia temporarily, and I belong to the vulnerable group in society. In addition, I went to Merdeka Square because I want to help people learn about us, and not believe in the lies told by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). How could I attack the police?”
Mr. Lin Tao
The second case took place in Malacca on February 15, 2012. Mr. Lin Tao was arrested by the police while distributing Falun Gong leaflets at a tourist spot in Malacca. Mr. Lin was charged under section 4(1)(b) and 5(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. The police claimed that Mr. Lin distributed flyers containing photos and content that obstruct social order, and the informational materials that he distributed did not have printing permits. The Malacca Magistrate's Court held a hearing on September 6 and listened to the prosecutor's statement on the case.
Raising Chinese People's Awareness of the Truth and Awakening Their Conscience
Mr. Lin Tao said, “Over the past more than 10 years, Falun Gong practitioners around the world have made consistent efforts to help more people learn the truth, and they have awakened the conscience of many Chinese police who have participated in the persecution of Falun Gong. Those people stop acting as the CCP's hatchet men. On the other hand, with the help of the international community and people and governments around the world, numerous Falun Gong practitioners have been rescued from the persecution.”
“We are the persecuted. When a person explains to others the persecution he/she has experienced, no matter where they are, they should not be stopped from speaking out. It is a fundamental right of a human being,” added Mr. Lin.
Mr. Lin said that police officers in Malacca told the practitioners that they took action because they had received complaints from the Malacca Tourism Bureau. In addition, high level police officials also indicated that they didn't want to see Falun Gong practitioners holding activities at tourist spots.
Facing the obstruction, the two practitioners said that their determination to raise awareness about the persecution won't be affected. Mr. Lin said, “We'll persist all the way to the end of the persecution. We will adopt various channels to help more people learn about the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.”
Hoping More People Can Provide Help
The two practitioners said that they have written letters and submitted memorandums to human rights organizations around the world over the past few months. They hope that more people will provide humanitarian help.
Mr. Wu finally said that he believes that there will be a good ending to this case. He hopes that the police, lawyers and judges can review the case and make a fair verdict.
Mr. Wu Ruirong was formerly a bus driver in the Hengyang Sales Department of China Southern Airlines, Hunan Branch. His wife Lei Yingqun was an accountant in the Hengyang Metal Materials Company. The couple has a well-behaved and obedient daughter. Just for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, Mr. Wu and his wife were forced out of their jobs. Mr. Wu was arrested six times, and subjected to forced labor two times. He spent more than 4 years in prison while painfully enduring physical abuse and torture. His wife Ms. Lei was arrested 7 times, and sentenced to a 4-year prison term. They both narrowly survived beatings several times during their detentions. To escape the persecution, Mr. Wu's family of three came to Malaysia to apply for refugee status.
Mr. Lin Tao, 41, began practicing Falun Gong in 1995. His parents, younger sister and brother-in-law were also Falun Gong practitioners. However, his father stopped the practice since the CCP started a persecution campaign against Falun Gong in 1999. He was scared and deceived by lies told on TV programs. Mr. Lin's younger sister and brother-in-law were arrested several times for persisting in practicing Falun Gong. They are still under surveillance. Mr. Lin had worked in Japan for 3 years. He was arrested as he returned to China in January 2001, because the Qingdao customs officers found him carrying Falun Gong books and audio tapes. Mr. Lin was able to come to Malaysia in July 2005 because he was hired to work in a printing factory in Johor.
