Chicago Tribune: Falun Gong Members Face Rights Violations Voice Of The People (Letter)

May 11, 2002

Chicago -- In "Chinese defend stand against Falun Gong" (Voice of the people, May 2), Zhijian Jin, spokesman for the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China, treats the people of Chicago to a sample of the propaganda the Chinese Government [Jiang Zemin's regime] relies on so heavily in its persecution of Falun Gong.

Luckily, here in the United States we are able to hear many voices, and lies eventually give way to truth.

Jin speaks of the Chinese government "patiently helping, educating" Falun Gong practitioners. Why, then, has the United States Congress condemned the persecution of Falun Gong by China? Why have reports by the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations' Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights all condemned the violent persecution of Falun Gong by China?

At least 403 practitioners have died in police custody. More than 20,000 practitioners are being held in forced labor camps and at least 100,000 in other forms of detention. All Falun Gong practitioners in China face horrible torture; the loss of homes, jobs, savings and pensions; and the deprivation of all rights.

Jin objects to a lawsuit filed by 53 United States residents and citizens from every region of the country alleging a systematic campaign by the Chinese government [Jiang Zemin's regime] to harass, intimidate and deprive of their civil rights the practitioners of Falun Gong here in the United States.

Two of the incidents referenced in this suit were unprovoked attacks that occurred here in Chicago outside the consulate.

If the Chinese government [Jiang Zemin's regime] is innocent, then let the consul general issue a statement condemning these attacks on the practitioners of Falun Gong.

Everyone in the United States should support this lawsuit. It defends the rights of all of us against the illegal actions of a foreign government.