Media Alert: Human Rights Victims Appeal to Chinese Gov't

SUPPORTERS OF FALUN GONG TELL VISITING CHINESE PRESIDENT TO FREE THE INNOCENT PRACTITIONERS, STOP TORTURING INNOCENT PEOPLE

NEW YORK - AUG. 29, 2000 - Thousands of supporters of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement involving simple exercises and meditation, will be taking to the streets of midtown Manhattan on Sept. 5-7 to peacefully protest the horrific human rights policies of the visiting Chinese President, Jiang Zemin.

Jiang, who heads China's totalitarian regime, is engaged in a brutal crackdown of millions of his people who practice Falun Gong, a practice, similar to Yoga and Taichi, that originated in the country's rich, ancient culture. Falun Gong is practiced freely worldwide, yet Jiang's unyielding regime violently suppresses this freedom of expression in an effort to wield complete control.

While Jiang courts the United States to achieve full trade status for his Communist regime, his human rights record remains abysmal. More than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to labor camps without trials. Hundreds have been sent to mental institutions for "re-education"; many have never been seen again. Tens of thousands have been arbitrarily arrested and tortured, with hundreds have been sentenced to jail terms of up to 18 years. At least 46 practitioners been murdered, to date.

Falun Gong supporters are planning ``dawn-to-dusk'' demonstrations during Jiang's visit to New York, serving as a large, unified reminder of the human rights atrocities that are a matter of state policy.

A press conference has been scheduled for Sept. 6, when Falun Gong practitioners and their supporters will detail the latest atrocities being committed now in China.

When: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000

Where: The Chinese Mission 35th Street between First and Second Ave.

What: Practitioners will perform their exercises and meditation, while speakers will decry the policies of the Chinese government. The event will culminate with a march to the United Nations, at a time when Jiang is scheduled to address the international body. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners from the metropolitan area are expected to participate in this historic event. Practitioners whose families are being tortured, jailed or are missing will be available for interviews.

Contact: Jonathan Jaffe, 201.964.2373, [e-mail]