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[Epoch Times, December 12, 2000] According to news from the Information Center of Chinese Human Rights and Democracy, over 30 congressmen, parliament members and professors from North America, Europe and Australia nominated Falun Gong founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi and his followers, as candidates for 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Center said that nominators were congressmen from the United States of America, parliament members from Great Britain, and university professors from America, U.K., Canada, Australia, and Taiwan. Some of them nominated Mr. Li only and the others nominated Mr. Li and his followers. The nomination is mainly based of the following three points:

1. The principles that Mr. Li established present higher standards for human peace;

2. Facing the brutal persecution by the Chinese Government, Falun Gong practitioners exhibit outstanding peaceful mind and action, which inspires people for world peace;

3. Mr. Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong practitioners have become well known for guarding freedom of speech, rally and belief in China. To issue the prize to them will be a great support for guarding basic human rights in China.

Based on the nomination guidelines of the prize, several kinds of people including congress representatives and university professors of political science, law, history and philosophy can nominate a candidate for a Nobel Prize, and the number of nominators must be at least 10. Currently, the number of nominators has already been over 30. Thus, Mr. Li is certainly able to compete for next year's Nobel Peace Prize and will become a competitive candidate. Based on the nomination guidelines, the names of nominators should not be released. Thus, the personal information of the nominators will not be disclosed currently.

Appendix: A Nomination Letter to the Committee of Nobel Prize (http://www.clearwisdom.net/eng/2000/Oct/22/WWS102200.html)