F1, August 20, 2000
-----------------------------------------------------
á
á
Behind
Falun Gong
á
á
U.S. must appeal to China to stop persecution
An Open Letter to President Bill Clinton & Vice President Al Gore and Gov. George W. Bush:
--------------------------
By MARTIN FOX
--------------------------
Recently I was in Washington, DC with several
other Seacoast residents for the anniversary of China's crackdown on Falun
Gong that started last July 22, 1999. We spoke with Representatives and
Senators from New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.
á
á
During these meetings, I had the strong feeling that although they were sympathetic and horrified at the intensity of the persecutions, they seemed frustrated and at a loss as to what to do. Last year, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution
(HR 218) calling for "the Government of
the Peoples Republic of China to stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners.
Whereas Falun Gong is a peaceful and nonviolent form of personal belief
and practice with millions of adherents in China and elsewhere."
á
á
One year has past with the persecutions
not only continuing but also escalating. Despite the
unprecedented suppression by the Chinese government, Falun Gong practitioners
still follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. No
matter where they are, they endure silently and they bear no hatred but
show the strength of compassion towards everyone. In some jails, their
great tolerance and enormous kindness have even moved many hardened criminals
to tears. Thus, many of the prisoners have abandoned their bad ways to
practice Falun Gong themselves.
á
á
Daily countless practitioners publicly come out to tell the truth of Falun Gong to the government or practice a set of movements in the face of being beaten, tortured, sent to labor camps, forced into mental hospitals, stripped of their assets and even tortured to death. And yet there has not been one incidence of any anger, aggression, or hated shown toward the Government and the police in the face this gross mistreatment. This denial of human rights is wrong. The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other papers worldwide have reported these injustices.
Now is the time for people of kind hearts
to shine the light of the truth into every corner of the world. When China
sees that the world is united in speaking out and showing its support for
the Falun Gong practitioners and human rights, I believe that their fear
and misunderstanding will dissolve and righteousness will prevail.
á
á
But someone needs to step forward, take
the lead on this moral injustice. Around 100 million people in over 30
countries practice Falun Gong. Falun Gong is not a religion or a political
entity. There is no formal organization or membership. They are not trying
to over throw their government. By any standard, they are model citizens
living by example the principles they believe in Truthfulness, Compassion,
and Forbearance - in the worst of times.
á
á
Each day as I read the events in China
via the Internet, I ask how can we accept this situation, be complacent
and not speak out to end the injustice.
á
á
The question is "What to do?" As you know
a lot of media attention will be focused on the upcoming permanent normal
trade relations (PNTR) with China. By mentioning this I am not trying to
influence your position for or against this agreement. But because of the
wide spread interest in the PNTR, I think it presents a proper forum to
take a stand against the injustice.
á
á
My suggestion is to look at the PNTR
controversy from a different perspective. Instead of seeing the situation
as an "either/or" conflict to pass or not to pass the PNTR - look at
the debate as an opportunity to support human rights. Regardless whether
the PNTR passes or is defeated; show your support for human rights and
at
the same time pass a totally separate resolution supporting the Falun
Gong practitioners. Honor the tens of thousands who have been stripped
of their human and spiritual rights. Give these heroes the recognition
and support they deserve. The intent of the resolution is that China needs
to immediately stop its repression and torture, engage in an open face
to face meeting with Falun Gong representatives and come to some mutual
understanding for a fair and legitimate environment. Third-party diplomatic
initiatives might also be part of this to assist in resolving this
crisis.
á
á
If we simply pass or defeat the PNTR
without a separate formal strong resolution supporting and honoring the
Falun Gong practitioners what message are we sending to the world and to
the millions of Chinese that are being tortured? Other nations look
to us to take the lead in human rights issues.
á
á
Do the right thing. Speak out boldly for
human rights (like the practitioners in China are doing) before the situation
gets worst. Each day the events reveal the urgency. The time to act is
now. To encourage economic prosperity without improved morality and human
rights is dangerous and wrong, not just for China but for the whole world.
Im asking you to listen to your compassionate heart and help bring an
end to this injustice. Thank you.
á
á
Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa) is a cultivation practice to return to your true nature The Great Way and is based on the understanding that the essential nature of the universe is one of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice includes five gentle movements/exercises. Its easy to learn, has great health benefits, and is free. Local meetings are held at the Community Campus on West Rd in Portsmouth every Wednesday from 7 to 9 PM. Local contact: David & Ming Li 603-422-8877 or visit www.falundafa.org for more information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To voice your support for human rights and for the Falun Gong practitioners heres a few suggested contacts.
- Al Gore - townhall@algore2000.com
- George W. Bush contact@georgewbush.com
- Bill Clinton - president@whitehouse.gov
- Chinese Embassy, 2300 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
-----------------------
Martin Fox practices Falun Gong and lives in Kittery.
All content published on this website is copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Falun Dafa in the Media
