Colloquium on Falun Gong and China's Human Rights Held at American University (Photos)
(Clearwisdom.net May 15, 2003) On May 13th, World Falun Dafa Day, at American University located in Washington DC, because the Chinese party has ruthlessly persecuted Falun Gong practitioners over the past nearly four years, the university clergy, Mr. Zhou Yi presided over a round table colloquium on "Falun Gong and China's Human Rights" which was sponsored by both the university clergy office and the Global Justice American Action Organization.
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| American University priest, Mr. Zhou Yi | Attorney, Ms. Marsh |
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Professor Nie from Catholic University of America |
Assistant of the Vice-President of American University |
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Ms. Marsh, representative of the plaintiffs' attorneys suing Jiang Zemin and the "610 Office," a western Falun Gong practitioner, Professor Nie Sen from the Catholic University of America, and a Professor from American University were invited to give talks at the colloquium.
After Mr. Zhou Yi introduced the speakers, and Professor Nie played an 18-minute video program which presented a brief introduction of Falun Gong, its worldwide spread, and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong since 1999. Professor Nie said, "For Falun Gong practitioners, the past four years are special. In China, because they persist in their belief, what they confront is the Chinese government's suppression, torture, and even death due to the persecution." Then attorney Marsh talked about the genocide lawsuit against Jiang Zemin. She said, "Falun Gong practitioners cultivate Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, which are the principles that all beings are longing for." "Unfortunately, in China, people who persist in being the best people, those kind Falun Gong practitioners who are strict with themselves, are arrested and beaten. The torture they have endured is beyond people's imagination." "Although as a plaintiffs' attorney, I filed a lawsuit against the chief criminal Jiang Zemin, when I read documents that recorded the cruel tortures that Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China had suffered, my tears flowed." A practitioner read the United States Human Rights Report. She expressed that the Chinese party was ruthlessly depriving people of their freedoms of belief and speech as well as of their most fundamental rights of living. It was absolutely wrong to persecute Falun Gong and the persecution had to be stopped. During the meeting, a western practitioner related his experience of going to Tiananmen Square to appeal for Falun Gong and the unreasonable detention he received in China.
A graduate student from the department of politics in the American University expressed on the spot, "Falun Gong is so good! I want to learn Falun Gong now!"
An assistant to the Vice-President of American University expressed that Falun Gong practitioners' courage and peacefulness were admirable and that American University would continue to provide more support and conveniences for them. He hoped to invite the attorney and Falun Gong practitioners to give talks at the university when the fall semester begins. He wished that students could learn about these issues. The attorney and practitioners happily accept his invitation.
Sound of Hope Radio Station, Radio Free Asia, Epoch Times, and New Tang Dynasty Television came to cover this colloquium.