(Speech at the fifty-sixth Human Rights Conference, March 22, 2000, Geneva)
As a result of its modernization process, the People's Republic of China has not only improved its economic prosperity, but also has made progress in protecting certain individual rights. For this reason, the current regression of the human rights situation in China is very regrettable. The persecution and torture of political dissidents, Falun Gong practitioners, Christians, and various ethnic minorities has sharply increased in the past year. The deprivation of freedom of speech, freedom of movement and assembly, and freedom of belief, coupled with show trials, torture, and the willful detainment of people without due process of law are all part of a typical day's work for the current regime. We are especially indignant that the number of criminals executed in China always exceeds the total of executed criminals for all of the other countries of the world combined. According to the World Anti-Torture Organization, China executed 1769 people in the year 1998 alone.
We require that China:
- Stop persecuting dissidents and immediately release all people who have been detained because of their political and spiritual beliefs.
- Abolish capital punishment, restore the rule of law, and implement the United Nations' human rights agreements.
- Protect, rather than suppress, people's freedom of belief.
German Foreign Minister, replying to the German Falun Dafa
Association.
The German government is deeply concerned about the human rights abuses connected with the banning of Falun Gong, and is paying close attentions to further developments. As the European Coalition has pointed out to the Chinese government many times, their behavior toward its Falun Gong citizens is unworthy of its national image.
German Parliament, replying to the German Falun Dafa Association
I can guarantee that the Human Rights and Humanitarian Support Committee is very seriously concerned about the human rights situation in China. The persecution of Falun Gong members is a brutal transgression of human rights, and it has become worse recently.
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