Four Swiss Practitioners Arrested in Tiananmen Square: A Campaign Launched in Switzerland

(Clearwisdom.net) November 21, 2001 -- Four Swiss practitioners participated in the peaceful appeal made on November 20 on Tiananmen Square in Beijing by 36 citizens of 11 Western countries. The Swiss Falun Gong Association reacted quickly by informing the media through a press conference in Geneva Tuesday morning. Patrice MUGNY, a member of the Swiss Parliament (from the Green Party), attended the press conference, saying that he was impressed by the courage of those young demonstrators. "One might call it a provocation, but in positive terms, what they have done is to manifest their right to express their spirituality, and whether in Switzerland or in China, everyone has the right to express his or her convictions," he added.

The spokesperson of the Swiss Association said they didn't participate in this action. "As there is no chief, no hierarchy and no administration among the practitioners, every individual may act on his own initiative according to his conscience," stated one practitioner to the journalists.

The Swiss Association also contacted the Swiss Embassy in Beijing and the officials of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They were told that the Swiss authorities are acting together with other countries involved in order to solve the situation. A lot of human rights NGO's based in Geneva were also alerted and some of them are preparing a reaction. Another press conference will be held on Wednesday in Geneva to give follow-up information.