NEWS RELEASE August 14, 2001
NEW YORK -- Aug. 13 (Friends of Falun Gong) Friends, family, and an Oscar-winning actress held a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel yesterday afternoon to call for the release of Dr. Teng Chunyan, who is currently being held in China and, sources say, is suffering torture at the hands of Chinese officials.
Dr. Teng Chunyan, a respected acupuncturist with a successful practice on Fifth Avenue, was arrested in December, 1999, after she passed information to foreign reporters about the illegal use of mental facilities to detain and torture Falun Gong practitioners. She was charged with "leaking state secrets" and sentenced to three years in a Chinese labor camp.
Speaking at the event were Friends of Falun Gong representatives, Teng's 70-year-old mother, a number of Teng's past students, patients and friends, including actress Celeste Holm, who won an Oscar for her 1947 performance in "The Gentleman's Agreement," and described herself as a patient and friend of Teng. Holm described Teng as a "wonderful person and a wonderful doctor," and hoped there would be a "greater effort to bring their home."
Adrian Karatnycky, president of Freedom House, spoke about widespread torture in China, and the government's fears of spiritual groups such as Falun Gong. He said Teng's "efforts to monitor Human Rights abuses in China are a great concern to Freedom House," and implored the world to "remember the pain of her mother."
A Plea From a Sickly Mother
The most touching statement of the afternoon came when Teng's 70-year-old mother, Yun Fang Qiu, recovering from a recent heart attack, spoke about her distress at not being able to be with her daughter. "I sincerely plead you to help me, this old mother, help my daughter, and help rescue her," implored Qiu, "so she can pick up her career again and benefit society and her patients. It would also help me have some enjoyable moments with my daughter everyday for the rest of my life."
According to her statement, Qiu and her husband, also in his 70's, returned to the U.S. to be closer to their youngest daughter, but were only with her for less than 20 days before Teng made what was supposed to be a short visit back to Beijing. They have not seen her since. Teng's father traveled back to China to seek his daughter whereabouts and condition, but could find out nothing. The frequent and fruitless trips between his home in Harbin and Beijing knocked away at his health, and he eventually fell ill.
Speaking through a translator, Qiu made an impassioned plea to the press and the elected officials present. "All I want is to see my daughter coming back home safely," said Qiu "Then I will be relieved. I am an old lady. I do not speak English, and I am weak and sick, plus all the mental pressure... I do not have the strength to rescue my daughter. I put hope my in you."
BACKGROUND
Friends of Falun Gong (FoFG) is a U.S.-based non-profit organization of individuals who firmly support and advocate for freedom of belief and other human rights. FoFG seeks in particular to free the Falun Gong prisoners of conscience in the People's Republic of China and to end the persecution there.
Dr. Teng Chunyan, born in 1963, a respected acupuncturist and a U.S. permanent resident, practiced at her own clinic on 5th Avenue in New York City for five years. She has been a clinic supervisor of Oriental Medicine at the New York College for Wholistic Health Education and Research in Syosset, New York since 1995. In May of 2000, she was arrested in Beijing but was not charged until in November. On Thanksgiving day last year, she was sentenced to 3 years in prison in China in a secret trial, under the charges of "leaking state secrets".
The transcripts of speeches by speakers at the press conference, as well as pictures and video clips are available upon request. Please send your information to info@fofg.org, or call 1-866-FG-FRIEND (866-343-7436).
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Category: Rallies & Protests
