The following speech was given by Mr. David Kuenzler of the Christian Anti-Torture and Anti-Capital Punishment organization before the delivery to the local Zurich government of a petition letter supporting Falun Gong practitioners who are being persecuted in Zurich's sister city in China, Kunming.

(Clearwisdom.net)

I am here today to speak as a member of the Christian Anti-Torture and Anti-Capital Punishment organization.

There have been many organisations working hard on human rights; we are only one of them. We are particularly against torture and the consequences caused by it. We are also particularly against capital punishment as our organisation's name shows. Looking back at the history of Jesus being tortured and killed, we think that we must try our best to be against this inhuman behaviour whether it is applied to Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Falun Gong practitioners or any other people.

Article 3 of the UN Universal Human Rights Declaration, says: "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." Article 5 says: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." Although China has signed the declaration, we all know that China has drifted far away from the stated standards. Torture has been applied. Thousands of people have been executed for small matters, in particular for religious beliefs or other reasons. The Chinese Government is scared of peaceful religions C scared of people in Tibet for over a decade and scared of Falun Gong for a few years.

Do we still remember the punishment and killing of Jesus two thousands years ago and the killing of Baptists in Zurich four hundreds years ago? Dictators are always scared of people who peacefully apply their beliefs.

[...]

I know that people have been executed and capital punishment exists in countries with dictatorships; regretfully it exists even in some democratic countries where it seems the majority of people can think freely, such as the US, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Jordan and other countries. But China takes the "absolute Championship."

As a person who grew up in Zurich and who loves this city, I am shocked over Zurich's longstanding support for Kunming. When we discuss whether we should provide loans to Kunming, it should be noted that there have been many people executed there. A Zurich newspaper reported that this financial support does not involve in human right issues. However, if we think carefully this support is completely unnecessary. Since the money has been spent we must link it with human rights issues. I understand that talk is easier than action. Nevertheless, human rights issues must take first priority.

Therefore, I think that Falun Gong activities give responsible people, particularly politicians, a welcome, new thought. Today's event is for Falun Gong. Of course, it is also for Kunming as well and the people who live under dictatorship in China, especially those people [...] who have been expelled, tortured and killed.

Power-Money-Economy-Treading on human rights--this vicious circle must be broken in as many regions as possible. A very good opportunity has been provided to Zurich to point out the Falun Gong issue to China, because human rights have been trampled in China, especially with regard to freedom of conscience and belief.

David Kuenzler
11 December 2002