In mid-September, practitioners in Colorado learned that President Bush was going to attend the APEC [Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation] forum in Shanghai. We deemed it a good opportunity to clarify the truth, and to suffocate and eliminate evils. So practitioners decided to write letters with compassion to President Bush to expose the State terrorism displayed by the Jiang Zemin regime's draconian persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, and to reveal to the American people and government that Jiang Zemin and Luo Gan etc. are actually the biggest terrorists in the world. From their benevolent hearts, many practitioners that could communicate well in English wrote individual letters to President Bush. Some practitioners co-signed a letter to President. This letter was also sent to local media.
The following is the open letter to President Bush written by practitioners.
September 20, 2001
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In the fifty-third session of the UNITED NATIONS Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, International Education Development (IED)'s Statement defined Chinese President Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners as "State terrorism" against its own people. Over the past two years, President Jiang's dictatorship has brutally persecuted Falun Gong practitioners who believe in "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance". Jiang's regime has arrested Falun Gong practitioners, beaten them, sent them to labor camps, sentenced them to jail, and destroyed the books of Falun Gong. This regime has used the army, the police, spies, and diplomatic means; and it has used all of its radio stations, television stations, and the press to spread lies and carry out the persecution in a villainous fashion.
Risking being arrested, tortured and even murdered, practitioners of Falun Gong have been peacefully appealing to Jiang's regime and to the world for over two years. They are calling for justice and conscience to the world with their lives. They have demonstrated to the world that one can remain true to higher principles in the harshest of conditions and at the greatest cost. They have demonstrated with their quiet, peaceful resistance that "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance" is mightier than any force of hatred and violence.
Jiang's communist regime has employed all types of propaganda to spread hatred and has used violence in the persecution of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance". As we are writing this letter today, 5 more deaths were reported for Falun Gong practitioners in China. All five deaths occurred in police custody and involved physical abuse, including torture. This brings the number of documented deaths to 283, with government sources inside China disclosing that the actual number exceeds 1,000. Evil is evil no matter where it is. Whether it is in a dark labor camp in China or in a glistening metropolis like New York City, the will to destroy the good and innocent is equally harmful. Terrorism is terrorism no matter whether the terrorists are killing Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing or killing the innocent in New York City. It is always a threat to all people around the world who love peace. We are against all acts of violence and hatred. We also express our outrage and condemnation towards this kind of evil terrorist activity that does such harm to humanity. As Dr. King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The totalitarian communist regime of Jiang Zemin is now promoting state terrorism against innocent and peaceful Falun Gong practitioners, which also does harm to all the people in China and around the world. All of us, including you and me, and all kind-hearted people around the world, have the responsibility to speak out and stop the State terrorism of the Chinese government.
Mr. President, we wish you great success on your October visit to China. While visiting China, we urge you to make it clear to the Chinese government that its continued violations of internationally recognized human rights and brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is promoting State terrorism, and will not be allowed.
Mr. President, for all the people around the world who love peace, for a better world that peace and justice prevail, please stand up for "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance;" please help stop the State terrorism of the Chinese government against innocent and peaceful Falun Gong practitioners. The world needs sincerity, kindness, and peace and living beings need "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance."
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Sincerely,
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Some Falun Gong Practitioners in Colorado