August 15, 2002

Massive pressure from Jiang Zemin's regime turned justice into injustice when a verdict was returned against 16 Falun Gong practitioners. Four of the sixteen who had faced the court had traveled half way around the world without care for their personal expenses nor the time and resources involved in this undertaking, which was begun in March of 2002, to show support for and protest the 3 year long persecution of Falun Gong and its practitioners in China. They wanted to inform the citizenry and publicly protest the order to "Shoot on Sight" that Jiang had issued last March against Falun Gong practitioners in China.

These protesters unwaveringly stepped out against the persecution in China. Although they only had occupied 7 square meters of an available area measuring a total of 140 square meters, they were accused and sentenced for "obstructing passers-by." They were accused and convicted of attacks on the police, while in fact it was the police officers themselves who forcibly arrested and attacked the practitioners using violent tactics.

The practitioners had physically and mentally intervened to end the brutal persecution against Falun Gong in China, availing themselves in the process of the until now still presumed rights to the freedoms of speech and assembly in Hong Kong. They have now become the first victims of the denial of that right in the millions-strong metropolis of Hong Kong, the city that supposedly enjoys independence in matters of law from Mainland China under the "One Country-Two Systems" policy.

Jiang's long arm has been felt in Hong Kong. The trial proceedings revealed that these questionable police actions took place after repeated pressure from Mainland Chinese operatives. A video recording proves clearly, without a shadow of doubt, that at no time did practitioners present any impediment to passers-by.

This judgment portrays Hong Kong's leadership as a force that undermines its own freedom. This judgment, on the surface appearing small in dimension, brings great damage to the country's future and security. History has taught us that caving in to injustice is the first step on the road to lawlessness. This judgment also goes against the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.

On behalf of many Falun Gong practitioners, we hereby express our thanks for the worldwide support shown to us during this trial. We appreciate your continued support, and none of your efforts will have been in vain. Unfortunately, this is not yet the end of the story of peaceful people versus a heinous persecution.

We want to remind you of these words Germany's Pastor Martin Niemoeller wrote during the Nazi era: "First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."

And the words of Robert F. Kennedy: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

(Original text in German)