(Clearwisdom.net)

Kitty Wang's Statement Regarding Her Hunger Strike

I am a Falun Gong practitioner from China, and I started practicing Falun Gong four years ago. Just like all other practitioners in China, I personally experienced the happiness and tranquility that "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance," principle of Falun Gong, has brought to people around the world. However, on July 20, 1999, Jiang 's regime suddenly initiated the brutal repression of Falun Gong for the purpose of strengthening its own power and controlling people's minds.

Overnight, countless kind and peaceful people were illegally sent to detention centers, labor camps, jails and even psychiatric institutions just because of their belief in "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance." To this day, they are being subjected to brutal persecution. At least 375 Falun Gong practitioners have been killed, over 1,000 sent to psychiatric institutions, more than 20,000 sent to labor camps without trial, and tens of thousands have been thrown in jail. Among these innocent people, many are my friends. Some of their homes were ransacked, while others were sent to labor camps or placed under surveillance. Some were even sentenced to 7 years in jail. Almost every practitioner has experienced the persecution to a certain degree. Jiang 's regime also uses the state propaganda machinery to slander Falun Gong and block the truth from the world.

In June 2000, one month before I came to the United States, I was arrested along with nine other practitioners for doing the exercises in a park. During the two-day detention, we were interrogated and threatened day and night. The police did not allow us to sleep or provide us with food or drink. When we protested their actions that violated our human rights endowed by the constitution, their answer was, "This is the order from the Bureau of Public Security." Jiang's regime puts one person's will above constitution and law by controlling governmental agencies, and totally depriving Falun Gong practitioners of their basic rights. This persecution has lasted for more than two years, and it is escalating. A few days ago, Jiang issued the order to "kill Falun Gong practitioners without pardon," and allowed police to shoot practitioners who post truth clarifying leaflets or banners. This blatant disregard for human life is an open challenge to all peace loving people around the world and a denial of the most basic elements of the human conscience.

Meanwhile, recent events show that the persecution of Falun Gong by Jiang's regime is no longer limited to China, as it has even extended its reach to the United States and other countries. Over a hundred practitioners from the U.S. and other countries were beaten by police in Tiananmen Square and expelled by force. They use diplomatic channels to slander Falun Gong in the international community and even hire thugs to assault local practitioners. Falun Gong is not just a China issue, but an international issue as well.

As a Falun Gong practitioner, one who has directly experienced the persecution, I feel that I have the responsibility to resist the ongoing killing and persecution through a hunger strike. I hope my action can help to attract the attention of more American people to this serious matter. I also call on the U.S. government to raise the voice of justice to Jiang's regime and say, "Immediately stop the killing and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners."

Danielle Wang's Statement Regarding Her Hunger Strike

It is not wrong to want to be a good person. Falun Dafa, which has brought great physical and spiritual benefits to millions of people around the world, is not wrong. The principle of Falun Dafa, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance", is not wrong! However, this peaceful spiritual group is being brutally persecuted on an unprecedented scale in Mainland China. More than 100 million people have been robbed of their right to believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance," and tens of thousands have been forced to become homeless and be deprived of their families and their means for leading a normal life. They are enduring inhuman persecution only because they want to speak the truth from their hearts, "Falun Dafa is good!"

On March 5, Falun Gong practitioners in Changchun exposed the criminal persecution of the Jiang regime through cable television. Reacting out of rage and paranoia, Jiang decreed that police could shoot to kill any Falun Gong practitioners that they spotted putting up posters or banners. This is an inhuman, unspeakable atrocity that cannot be allowed to proceed! According to reports, already several practitioners have been shot and wounded as a result of this order. Have our fellow Chinese people completely lost their rationality? Are they now really willing to do this to the very people that they are supposed to serve and protect? Has our native land completely lost any semblance of dignity? Do they wish to display the dark, bloody side of China to the entire world? This is a most shameful, despicable act!

Three generations of my family have endured persecution. During the Cultural Revolution, my grandfather was tortured to death for speaking out for justice. On July 20, 1999 my father was arrested for practicing Falun Gong. He endured agonizing torture during detention and was subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison, losing his freedom and all contact with his family. He committed no crimes, yet he was subjected to this unimaginable ordeal only for practicing Falun Gong and refusing to renounce his beliefs, even when placed under great pressure and duress. Now, because I practice Falun Gong, I cannot return to my birthplace. The Jiang criminal group has ignored the Chinese Constitution and repeatedly escalated the suppression of Falun Gong. So far there have been 375 verified cases of Falun Gong practitioners being tortured to death, while sources within the Chinese government place the number at over 1,600. Tens of thousands of innocent people are being thrown into prison and forced labor camps, while countless more are suffering as the result of this persecution campaign. If I were to go back, what would await me? Imprisonment, torture, brainwashing? I do not know. What I do know is the steadfast heart of a Falun Dafa practitioner. For the sake of truth, I can give up everything without a moment's regret.

Today, all of us are gathered here to use our actions to show our support for kindness and righteousness. I value my life and my health, but in the face of this despicable campaign of torture and suppression, I have no choice but to step forward to uphold justice. I have decided to start a hunger strike spanning four days, starting from today at noon and ending on Friday evening. I hope my actions will help to raise awareness among those people who have not been informed of the evil persecution. The persecution of Falun Gong is not just a matter concerning China, it is a direct attack against the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance", a set of values that kind people all over the world agree with and respect. The Jiang regime hopes to completely eliminate "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" in China, and this would be a crime against all peace-loving, kind people of the world. I appeal for help from the American people and the U.S. government to intervene to stop this looming tragedy in China. This bloody persecution cannot be allowed to go on unchecked, and Jiang's order to shoot innocent people on sight cannot be allowed to be carried out any longer.

Thank you.

Xiao Dan