On December 1 Ms Kia Andreasson, a member of the Swedish Parliament questioned in writing the Swedish Foreign Minister how she is going to act in order to show the standpoint of Sweden regarding the ill treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Ms Kia Andreasson also stated that the goal of Falun Gong is to elevate spiritual qualities through meditation and in that way upgrade moral, tolerance towards others, compassion, forbearance, patience and establish truthfulness. Although they are peaceful and spiritual people who practice meditation they are imprisoned, harassed and tortured. Human rights are not respected. It requires the world around to deprecate these actions of China. It is very urgent that Sweden makes a statement concerning this matter.

On December 9, in response to the above written question from Ms Kia Andreasson the Foreign Minister, Ms Anna Lindh replied in writing:

The treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China means in many ways serious violations of the human rights. A large number of people have been arrested and we have received reports about how they were beaten in custody and police premises. Severe sentences have been passed on a number of representatives of the movement, apparently on political grounds.

Without taking a standpoint on the teachings of Falun Gong the Swedish Government has expressed her deprecation of the treatment that practitioners are subjected to in China. This has been done both by direct conversation and contacts with the Chinese Government and through calls and speeches in the European Union. Lately, on 9 November this matter was brought up partly as a result of Swedish initiative as an EU-statement in the UN-assembly.

We have in repeated occasions clarified for the leaders of China in both our bilateral contacts and in EU that we continue to closely watch the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China, and we shall continue to comment on violations of human rights against them and others, when such crimes are committed.