To the Leaders of the Chinese government
c/o Chinese Embassy in France:
Since Jiang Zemin decided to ban Falun Gong last July, the persecution has escalated continuously for more than a year. The situation is now very serious. A new round of cruel suppression was carried out on China National Day. As Falun Gong practitioners in France, we express our serious concerns over the current crisis.
Jiang Zemin and his clique undoubtedly initiated the persecution of Falun Gong. It is an effort to strengthen their personal power despite opposition from other leaders of the nation. The well-calculated plans of this uncompromising dictator have lead to a brutal persecution. Jiang has not only violated China's Laws and Constitution, but also caused immeasurable harm to millions of Falun Gong practitioners and their families. Currently, over 50 Falun Gong practitioners in China have died as a result of this government sanctioned persecution; over 500 people are in prison having been illegally sentenced; over 5000 people have been sent to labor camps without trials; over 600 healthy individuals were sent to mental hospital and injected with neural-damaging drugs; tens of thousands of practitioners are detained repeatedly without cause; and countless families have been illegally fined. In just over one year, countless Falun Gong practitioners have received inhumane physical and mental abuse. Please think about it, in the 21st century and in a modern society that promotes laws and democracy, just a small group of people with selfish motives dare to persecute kind and innocent people who live by the principles of "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance." Being Chinese, and with a clear conscience facing the facts of such an unprecedented brutal persecution, can you not be moved?
In history, no one has succeeded in maintaining a totalitarian regime with violent suppression, and Jiang Zemin will not be an exception. Eventually, he will not escape the judgement of history. Jiang Zemin has not only brutally persecuted Falun Gong in China, but also staged a shameless campaign of defamation outside of China. However, Jiang has made himself a global laughingstock, presenting a booklet defaming Falun Gong as a gift to President Clinton. Interpol rejected Jiang's request for an arrest warrant, for the founder of Falun Gong. No nation other than China has opposed Falun Gong. On the contrary, many have openly condemned and criticized the Chinese government over the persecution.
The French Department of Foreign Affairs has expressed serious concerns about the Chinese government's action. And in his letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Parliament member Andre Gerin wrote, "I am asking the Minister of the Department of Foreign Affairs to pay special attention to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government. Falun Gong is a cultivation system that includes some physical exercises and a sitting meditation based on the principle of Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance. It is not a religion. It is a distinguishing feature of Chinese civilization. ... Amnesty International and the Falun Gong Practitioners in France have expressed their concerns about the conduct of such brutal violations of basic human rights and depriving Falun Gong practitioners from the freedom of speech, the freedom of expression, and the freedom of assembly. The brutal suppression of this benign spiritual practice is reminiscent of a violent and barbaric religious persecution Western society experienced in the Middle Ages. Such conduct is in violation of the United Nation's human rights regulations signed by the Chinese government.". Mr. Andre Gerin questioned the Foreign Minister: What political and diplomatic measures should the French government, the decision making committee of the European countries, and the countries of the United Nations take to make the Chinese leadership change their mindset in regard to respecting human rights? This is because respecting human rights is the foundation of a nation's progress in a democracy and in the system of economic development.
It is obvious that Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Gong has lost its support in China, and he has created a notorious image in the international community. China has an old saying that "Good will be rewarded with good, and evil will be rewarded with evil". History has proved that persecution against innocent people can only end with dreadful results for the persecutor. At the same time, ignoring evil would be the same as encouraging it. Therefore, we call on people in the Chinese government of good conscience and kind heart, for truth and righteousness, for the future of China, please step forward to stop the atrocity of Jiang Zemin and his clique and to help stop the brutal persecution of Falun Gong.
Falun Gong practitioners in France