August 13, 2003 - Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted for four years now. In China, hundreds of people have been killed, thousands are detained in labour-camps and psychiatric institutions, and hundreds of thousands arrested. In Belgium and other European countries, as in the US, Canada and Australia, people are harassed by the Chinese government, names are put on blacklists and attempts are made to restrict the freedom of speech and gathering. The slander and defamation campaign to defame Falun Gong practitioners continues unabated.

Jiang Zemin, the former leader of the Chinese communist party, is responsible for this persecution. An international action has been launched to bring him to justice and to hold him responsible for his crimes. Belgian Falun Gong practitioners are using the new Belgian law against genocide to prepare a complaint against Jiang on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and torture and, in this way, to let the world know the truth, to save more lives and to help stop this brutal persecution.

At the same time, we have created an online petition in support of this lawsuit and we invite all kind-hearted people of the world to sign the petition at:

http://www.fldf.be/justice.html

Belgian Falun Dafa Association

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practise of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practise that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practises such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practised in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practising Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practise in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practise while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practise it.

The Falun Dafa Information Centre has verified details of 767 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Janniek De Clercq -- janniek.declercq@pandora.be, Tel: 09/233.77.13
Matthias Slaats - matthias.slaats@pandora.be, Tel: 0497/470.865
Nicolas Schols - Nicolas@falundafa.be, Tel: 0479/875734

Source: http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200308/14434.html