(translation from the original letters in German)
Dr. Wolfgang Gehardt
Member of the German Federal Parliament
Federal chairman of the F.D.P. (Liberal Democratic Party)
September 25, 2000
To: German Falun Dafa Association
Dear Mrs. XXX:
Many thanks for your letter of 15/08/00 that you have sent to me, as well as to other members of our parliamentary group, and thank you as well for the information brochures about Falun Gong.
The parliamentary group of the F.D.P. supports vigorously any amelioration of the situation of Human Rights in China. In our opinion, any further integration of China into the global economy must be accompanied by significant ameliorations concerning Civil Rights and Human Rights. The situation of Human Rights, especially the persecution of religious groups (among which is also Falun Gong), has been repeatedly a topic in official statements of the F.D.P. parliamentary group, recently, by Ulrich Irmer, our spokesman on foreign affairs, on the occasion of the visit of Chinese prime minister Zhu Rongyi in Berlin. A copy of this declaration is enclosed.
Furthermore, the F.D.P. parliamentary group introduced a series of parliamentary initiatives e.g. a resolution called "For a China resolution by the UN commission on Human Rights."
We regret that the Federal Government has not yet succeeded in reaching an agreement on a resolution in the context of the EU.
The F.D.P. parliamentary group will continue to strive for reaching this resolution.
Sincerely Yours,
Wolfgang Gerhardt
(signed)
Matthias Berninger
Member of the German Federal Parliament
October 2, 2000
To: German Falun Dafa Association
Re: Persecution of Falun Gong in China and Your letter of 08/15/00
Dear Mrs. XXX:
With regard to the latest development in China, I deeply regret that the Chinese government continues to take brutal measures against members of Falun Gong and that your letter of August has not lost its relevance to the present.
B ndnis 90/Die Gr nen (the Green Party) hope to pave way to democracy and to the recognition of Human Rights by means of dialogue with the Chinese government. We believe that the end of the persecution of dissidents as well as the release of people who are imprisoned because of their own personal opinion and the ratification and implementation of the UN-Human Rights Pact are the prerequisite for China's prospects for the future.
Although the latest dialogue about Human Rights has been fruitless, we pursue to ameliorate the situation of the Human Rights in China so that we can make it possible for the adherents of Falun Gong to practise their way without restraint and to achieve their release from prison.
I have forwarded your letter to the MEP Claudia Roth who is dealing with Human Rights with the request to support the members of your movement.
Sincerely Yours
Matthias Berninger
(signed)
Rudolf Bindig
Member of the German Federal Parliament
Spokesman for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of SPD
(Social Democratic Party)
October 2, 2000
To: German Falun Dafa Association
Dear Mrs. XXX:
I would like to answer you in the name of all colleagues to whom you have sent a letter.
I would like to express my thanks for the regular information about the situation of Falun Gong, which is very important for us.
We observe the behaviour of the Chinese authorities towards the practitioners.
In its session of June 7, 2000, the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aids committee has, with regard to the petition of the Falun Gong practitioners in Germany, observed that the Peoples Republic of China, having signed the treaty on civil and political rights, has committed itself to not discriminating anybody because of his opinion, his faith or his ideology nor to exert pressure on anybody as well as to acknowledge the right of peaceful assembly.
The committee asked the Federal Government to adopt this position within the talks in the frame of the dialogue about civil rights.
Sincerely Yours
Rudolf Bindig
(signed)
Rene R spel
Member of the German Federal Parliament
Member of the commissions for
Education, Research and Estimation of Technological Consequences
Environmental Protection, Nuclear Security
October 31, 2000
To: German Falun Dafa Association
Dear Mrs. XXX,
Many thanks for the information you sent me about the persecution of Falun Dafa adherents in China.
Experts of the working groups Foreign Policy and Human Rights of the SPD parliamentary group have assured me that your justified cause is supported by my parliamentary group as well as by the Federal Government.
Hopefully, the community of Nations will succeed in preventing China from persecuting your community.
Yours sincerely
Rene R spel MEP
(signed)